Toddler nearly drowns in Cultus Lake
VANCOUVER – A young boy has been hospitalized after falling into Cultus Lake earlier this week.
The three-year-old’s relatives told CTV News he was riding his bike near the lake when he somehow ended up in the water.
They said his mother spotted him in the lake, diving in to rescue him.
CTV News has decided not to identify the boy.
BC Emergency Health Services confirmed paramedics were called to Cultus Lake on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. and airlifted a patient to hospital in serious condition.
Lifesaving Society of BC and Yukon, a charity aimed at preventing drowning deaths, found children under five years old are at high risk of drowning.
“This is not happening in supervised lifeguard areas. This is happening in backyard pools, bathtubs and open bodies of water. The number one thing that we want to make sure that we always say is supervision is key. Assign a designated water watcher, somebody that knows where the water is and where the children are at all times,” said Kimiko Hirakida, education manager with the society.
Hirakida said it is also important to limit distractions when supervising, such as cell phones, pets and other children.
She also recommends both the adult and child wear a life jacket near water, adding the child should always be within an arm’s reach away.
“Drowning can happen in seconds and in as little as a couple inches, a couple centimeters of water. So a parent needs to be there or a guardian needs to be there right away to make sure that they're accessible to their child to pull them out of harm's way,” she said.
As summer approaches and people go to new destinations, she encourages people to do an inspection to see what and where the water is.
“Are there ditches? Are there little moats that you need to be aware of? Is there a pond? All of these things can draw children to it; they're just naturally drawn to water,” Hirakida explained.
So far this year, six people have drowned in B.C., according to the society.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.