Why an Okanagan paddle boarder tried to give a Peachland lifeguard $1,000

HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE, THEN THOUGHT OF HIS SON: "THAT'S WHEN MY HEART JUST SHATTERED. MY LIFE, EVERY PART OF RIPPING TO PIECES."

KELOWNA – When Aaron Platz bought a paddleboard and hit Okanagan Lake Saturday, he had no idea how close he would come to losing his life.

Platz, 38, embarked on his journey close to Todd's Tent Town, and headed towards downtown to see the car show. The waves were rough as the wind had picked up, so Platz paddled from his knees the rest of the way. 

Looking back, Platz recognises multiple mistakes he made.

"I didn’t own a lifejacket, there’s no tether leash provided with the paddle board that I bought, but the biggest mistake was the footwear," Platz explains. Because he was planning a walk downtown, wore tight velcro hiking sandals. Plus, he had a couple of drinks before starting his trip. 

He was on his way back when things went wrong. 

"I was getting very confident, getting better at it and kind of surfing the waves, and starting to stand up a little bit more," Platz said. As he passed the Wibit floating adventure park, he drifted out far from the shore.

"I looked behind me and saw a really nice wave coming so I turned the paddle board to face the shore, and that’s when I fell."

READ MORE: Headed to the beach? Why Okanagan parents prefer Peachland's Swim Bay

At first, Platz didn't think much of it, as he'd fallen before and it hadn't been an issue. 

"When I surfaced my paddle board was right beside me," he said. "Within a second that paddle board was six feet away."

A second later, another wave crashed in, and the paddle board was lost for good. 

"Immediately I knew I was in trouble," Platz said. 

He tried to roll on his back and draw a deep breath, hoping to remain buoyant as he removed his shoes. 

"But that never really happened," he said. "Every time I tried to draw breath, another wave would replace all the water I just cleared from my mouth."

With his sandals weighing him down, he knew he needed to remove them as fast as possible.

"I reached down for one shoe but by the time I got it off I was about four feet under water," he said. "It took a long time, 10 seconds at least, to swim back to the surface, without any breath."

It was at this point Platz truly feared for his life. He thought of the mother of his child, and said his goodbyes to her. 

Then, he thought about his one year old son, Daniel.

"That’s when my heart just shattered. My life, every part of me ripping to pieces."

He managed to cry out, kicking as hard as he could towards the shore, refusing to give up. 

"At that point my legs just stopped working completely, I couldn’t move them anymore," Platz said. "Then right away, my arms too. I just lost all energy."

For the second time, the realization struck him.

"This time I knew, I was gonna die in the lake," he said.

This was when 18 year-old lifeguard Ally Benedet came to the rescue from Wibit Adventure Park, tucking a lifejacket under Platz's arm and pulling him towards shore. However, as Platz was completely immobilised, they weren't gaining much ground.

"I was pulling us both down," Platz said. 

Then lifeguard Alex Taylor arrived in an inflatable boat, and both Benedet and Platz were pulled aboard and brought to shore.

"It took over an hour for me to catch my breath," Platz said. "I’ve never been that tired in my life."

Platz said he is a strong swimmer and physically fit. As he owns his own electrical company, he is accustomed to full days of hard labour. 

In the ambulance, Platz recalls blacking out again and again — he estimates up to 50 times. 

"I didn’t expect to be choking on water, and then that changed everything," Platz said. "I could’ve lost my life."

For Platz, what's most important is recognizing the heroics of his young rescuer.

"I don’t want to be in the spotlight over this, I just made some stupid mistakes," he says, "The story is about her."

Yesterday, Platz was reunited with Benedet and his other rescuers. Wanting to thank her, Platz tried to compensate her with a thousand dollars. Benedet politely, but adamantly refused. 

"I owe her so much, and I don’t know how to pay that back," Platz said. "I want to do something, but I don’t know how."

Since the incident, Platz has contacted the City of Peachland and West Kelowna, the Rescue Life Society, and Benedet's employer in an effort to shed light on her rescue, and get her the recognition she deserves. 

Platz hopes that others can learn from his experience, and ensure they have a life jacket and proper footwear every time they go out on the lake. Platz himself has learned a great deal himself. The incident changed his perspective. 

"The most important thing in this life is relationships, and what we have with people, because you can’t take anything else with you," he said. "Don't throw it all away to go paddle boarding."

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