One-time rescuer says Kamloops not doing enough to prevent river drownings

Kamloops resident Rob Griffiths sent a fiery letter to the mayor and council this week demanding more action be taken to prevent drownings after an international student was swept away in the Thompson River earlier this week.

Griffiths saved two international students from drowning in the Thompson River on July 11 last year after they jumped off a float plane dock near the airport. The following day, Alberta man Stan Cappis was swept away in the North Thompson River and his body has not been found.

Griffiths became vocal in the community for the need to have more signage put in place to warn tourists and international students. Later that summer he was recognized for his life saving efforts with a Certificate of Commendation by Kamloops Fire Rescue, but said he got push back from attending councillors on his demands for improving river safety.

“They were like, not everybody can read signs and maybe a misting station to cool people down would be more appropriate,” Griffiths said.

On Sunday, July 6 at roughly 5 p.m. an international student was swept away by the river while retrieving a volleyball on the north shore just east of Overlanders Bridge and has not been found.

The tragedy prompted Griffiths’s letter to mayor and council that stated his belief the City could have done much more to warn visitors about the hazards of the river with additional signage and life rings at area beaches.

“No signs have been added anywhere since Stan drowned last summer,” he said. “I’m always out running and cycling, and I went to where he disappeared, and there is nothing, no changes.”

A news release was issued by the City of Kamloops on July 8 expressing condolences for the tragedy and urging all residents and visitors to exercise caution around the North and South Thompson rivers.

“This case is very unfortunate, but we can’t put signs everywhere, there are signs in place and at the risk of sounding rude, it’s a river,” City councillor and deputy mayor Dale Bass told iNFOnews.ca.

“In regard to putting in life rings, we have already been down that road, there is no guarantee they will stay there. They get damaged and stolen. The City makes it clear you can safely go swimming at the beach at Riverside Park.”

Griffiths maintains enough is not being done to prevent the drownings.

“We know it’s preventable, we know international students are at risk,” he said. “These are visitors and guests to our city and we should be warning people more about these hazards. If it was a local person, we’d probably be treating this a bit differently.”