Edmonton man drowns while swimming at West Kelowna campground

WEST KELOWNA – Several bystanders jumped into Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna yesterday evening in an attempt to save a man from drowning. 

Emergency crews responded to the scene and preformed CPR on the man who had been pulled from Okanagan Lake at a campground on Westside Road just before 6 p.m. yesterday, July 5, according to an RCMP media release.

Police say a 25-year old Edmonton died at the scene. 

“Investigators have learned the victim had been swimming with a family member when he suddenly went under the water’s surface,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “The man’s family member began screaming for help when the he failed to immediately resurface.”

The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the incident.

“The West Kelowna RCMP would like to recognize all those who quickly jumped into action, without hesitation, to pull the man from the waters of Okanagan Lake and perform CPR," O’Donaghey says.


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Jenna Hickman

Jenna has a combined honours degree in journalism and human rights from Carleton University, in Ottawa ON. After university Jenna took a year off to live with family in Cape Town and travel throughout southern Africa. A Kelowna native, she has interned at The Daily Courier and Global News Okanagan. Jenna is an avid yogi and enjoys all the Okanagan has to offer. She can be spotted on the mountain, whether hiking or skiing, or at a local winery, glass in hand.

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