Coldstream woman killed in tragic boating accident was an avid water skier: Coroner

CHERRYVILLE – A woman who died in a water skiing accident last summer was killed by a cervical spine fracture sustained when she struck the water face down, says a B.C. Coroner who has ruled her death accidental.

Brenda Lee Anne Roine, 46, was boating on Sugar Lake near Cherryville on the Canada Day long weekend last year with her husband and daughter. Coroner Elizabeth Noble said in her report on Roine’s death the Coldstream woman was being pulled behind the boat on one ski at about 25 to 28 miles per hour.

“Her husband advised that as she was skiing, she went face forward down into the water,” Noble said.

He turned the boat around, pulled her out of the water and discovered she had no pulse. Resuscitation efforts were initiated, and continued as the group returned to shore, Noble said.

Roine was placed in the back of a Ford pickup truck and resuscitation efforts continued as they drove to meet emergency personnel on Highway 6 about 20 minutes away.

Examination revealed Roine sustained a cervical spinal fracture when she fell and struck the water. No post mortem or toxicology exam was conducted. Noble said Roine was an experienced water skier, having participated in the activity since she was a child.

Her death has been ruled accidental, and Noble made no recommendations.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.