West Kelowna RCMP reported that a U.S. citizen drowned on Friday evening after two kayaks capsized in Okanagan Lake near Westbank First Nations Beach, highlighting the critical importance of wearing life-jackets.
Incident Details
Police received a call just after 7:10 p.m. that two kayakers had fallen into the water near the 2100-block of Boucherie Road. The pair attempted to swim to shore but were unsuccessful. One kayaker remained on the surface and was rescued, while the other disappeared beneath the water and did not resurface.
Multiple vessels joined the search, including a police boat, a Peachland Fire Rescue vessel, and a civilian boat used by front-line officers. Central Okanagan Search and Rescue searched for the missing man until 10:30 p.m., according to a social media post. Police later located the second kayaker and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Victim and Safety Reminder
The deceased kayaker was identified as a U.S. citizen. Police are working to notify next of kin. Neither kayaker was wearing a life-jacket as required by law, said Mounties.
“This is a tragic reminder of how quickly conditions can change on Okanagan Lake,” said Const. Ash Puri of West Kelowna RCMP. “Wearing a life-jacket can make the difference between life and death. We urge all boaters and paddlers to take that simple step every time they’re on the water.”
