Police affirm participant in Across the Lake Swim drowned Saturday

Drowned throughout lake swim

Photo: Mike Thomas

Emergency crews try life-saving procedures on a person on Tugboat Bay seashore Saturday morning.

A person collaborating within the Kelowna Across the Lake Swim drowned Saturday morning.

The Kelowna RCMP have confirmed {that a} 67-year-old man died at Tugboat Bay seashore on Saturday through the annual swimming occasion.

The man started his swim in West Kelowna with the remainder of the contributors at about 7:50 a.m., intending to complete at Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna’s City Park.

But situations had been difficult throughout Saturday’s occasion, with sturdy southerly winds pushing contributors off beam to the north. Various contributors required help all through the swim.

Police mentioned that at about 9:50 a.m., the person was discovered unresponsive within the water by one other participant, who pulled him to shore at Tugboat Bay with the assistance of a paddle boarder.

Tugboat Bay is greater than a kilometre north of Hot Sands Beach.

“BC Ambulance attended and attempted to resuscitate the man; however, all life savings efforts were unsuccessful,” Const. Ginny Folster of the Kelowna RCMP mentioned in a press launch.

The man was recognized and his household has been notified.

“This is an incredibly tragic reminder of just how fast environmental conditions can turn recreational activities into an emergency situation,” mentioned Const. Folster,

“We extend our most sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time.”

This is the fifth demise reported on Okanagan Lake prior to now month alone.