Two young people died Saturday after separate drowning incidents in B.C. waters.
A 21-year-old man was pulled from Thetis Lake near Victoria after other swimmers spotted him under the water.
“Someone started yelling call 911, we can’t find him, he's under the water. As soon as I heard that he's under the water I just dove in,” said Barbara Donahue, who pulled the victim to shore.
The swimmers performed CPR, but the man died on the way to hospital.
In the Okanagan, a 19-year-old from Keremeos accidentally drowned while float rafting with friendson the Similkameen River. He fell off and was swept under the surface, witnesses say.
His body was recovered from the river by rescue crews and the BC Coroners Service is now investigating the incident.
The amount of accidental drowning incidents has more than doubled in 2013 compared to 20 deaths in 2012, according to police.
“We urge all to take normal safety precautions when enjoying B.C. waterways and to never underestimate the possible risks involved with water recreation," said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk with Keremeos RCMP.
