Drowning a 'frequent' cause of 'selfie-related deaths,' BC Hydro says in warning about risky behaviour
A B.C. utility says it's noticed a large increase in trespassing at its sites in recent years and thinks social media may be to blame.
BC Hydro released a report Friday that says trespassing instances have increased 200 per cent over the past five years. The report claims this risky behaviour is, in many cases, "tied to wanting to get an impressive selfie, photo or video for social media."
BC Hydro's summary of the survey concluded nearly half of B.C. residents polled have seen someone doing something risky outdoors to get a perfect photo or video. Fifteen per cent admitted to doing this themselves.
According to the survey, some of those actions include standing at the edge of a cliff (16 per cent), trespassing or disobeying signage (12 per cent) and taking a selfie from a dangerous height (nine per cent). BC Hydro's report didn't specify whether these incidents were at their sites, however.
The Crown corporation operates 31 power generating stations and many of the dams have recreation sites with parks and beaches.
"Dams and reservoirs are particularly dangerous places to take a risk for social media, as one of the most frequent causes of selfie-related deaths is drowning," BC Hydro's report says.
"BC Hydro has recorded dozens of safety incidents and near misses at or near its dams, generating stations, reservoirs and recreation sites over the past several years, and the numbers are likely much higher as most incidents go unreported if there is no injury or vandalism."
The report points to one incident where someone climbed the powerhouse at Buntzen Lake Dam, took footage and posted it to YouTube.
In another example, the report says someone was seen swimming last year in the downstream side of Vancouver Island's Comox Dam. The report says they were "dangerously close" to spillway gates, which were both open at the time.
"Similarly, in the Kootenays daredevil white water kayakers often plunge over the natural falls downstream of Aberfeldie and Elko Dams," BC Hydro's report says.
"About once a year, local search and rescue is called to rescue someone who has been injured going over the falls, including an incident last year that left one woman with a significant lower back injury. At Elko, kayakers sometimes even go over the spillway in their kayaks to get into the canyon between the dam and the powerhouse."
To address these concerns, BC Hydro recommends people stay away from generating facilities including dams, powerhouses and power lines. The company also asks the public to obey signage and stay in designated trails and areas.
The online survey was conducted by Majid Khoury of 800 British Columbians from May 17 to 19, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.