UPDATE: Coroner investigating drowning at Penticton beach

A 61-year-old Alberta man drowned in Okanagan Lake in Penticton yesterday.

Emergency crews were called to Okanagan Lake Beach in the 900 block of Lakeshore Drive West in Penticton at around 2:30 p.m. yesterday, Aug. 11, to a report of a drowning, according to an RCMP media release.

Witnesses told police a 61-year-old Alberta man lost consciousness while swimming, was brought to shore and was given CPR. Paramedics transported the man but he couldn't be resuscitated, and later died in hospital.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the man’s family and loved ones during this difficult time," Penticton RCMP media relations officer Const. Jame Grandy said in the release.

Both RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating.

"Our fact-finding investigation will look to determine who died, and how, where, when and by what means they came to their unexpected death," B.C. Coroners Service spokesperson Randy Watson said in an email, adding there was no further information to share at this early stage of the investigation.

Due to the privacy of the deceased, the coroners service and RCMP will be not be confirming the Alberta man's identity and no other information will be made available to the public at this time.

— This story was updated at 10:05 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 with information from RCMP.

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