Police say the day could have ended far worse than it did after a call came in Sunday afternoon of a man drowning in Thetis Lake.
View Royal Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance and West Shore RCMP responded to reports of a drowning-in-progress in the north end of Thetis Lake early on Sunday afternoon.
The man somehow ended up back on shore before crews arrived. He was found to be in good condition and transported to hospital. It remains unclear if he was assisted in getting out of the water.
West Shore RCMP said the incident “could have been a lot worse.”
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According to the Lifesaving Society of B.C. and the Yukon, 78 per cent of drowning victims are male and 28 per cent between 20 and 34-years-old.
The organization says the majority of drownings – 37 per cent – occur in lakes, but “virtually all of the drownings seen in B.C. each year are preventable.” It’s recommended to wear an approved life jacket around water or on a boat, and learn swimming and life saving skills at your local pool before heading out to the lake or ocean.
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