Girl remains missing after falling from paddleboard into Cultus Lake, B.C.

CHILLIWACK — Police in Chilliwack, B.C., say they have not been able to find a 13-year-old girl who is missing after falling into the waters of Cultus Lake from a paddleboard over the weekend.

Mounties say their underwater recovery team is on the scene and helping with the search.

Cultus Lake’s Entrance Bay has been closed to facilitate the search, and people are being asked to stay out of the area as activity can kick up silt and reduce visibility for those searching underwater.

The possible drowning happened on Saturday afternoon when the missing girl reportedly suffered a medical emergency while floating on the paddleboard and fell into the water.

The girl was not wearing a life-jacket.

There have been numerous drownings in B.C. this year, including in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions, and the province warned last month that the number of drownings since May has risen 54 per cent from the same period last year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 10, 2026.