Update: According to Kelowna RCMP, the 27-year-old diver injured on the weekend in a “free” diving accident in Okanagan Lake off Paul’s Tomb at the foot of Knox Mountain has died as result of being submerged under the water for too long.
He is Kevin John Stephens, from Kelowna. Stephens was free-diving (diving without scuba equipment) in Okanagan Lake in the area of Poplar Point near Paul’s Tomb on the afternoon of Aug. 9 when he failed to surface after a dive.
Friends and family members found him in more than two metres of water, and were able to get him to shore. He was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital but died there on the afternoon of Aug. 11.
The Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.
The family of Mr. Stephens has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the Coroners Service requests that the media respec their privacy at this difficult time.
Original story: A Kelowna man is in hospital after a “free” went horribly wrong in Okanagan Lake Aug. 9.
At 3:08 pm, B.C. Ambulance and the Kelowna Fire department reported a 27-year-old man was pulled out of the water off Paul’s Tomb at the foot of Knox Mountain unconcious after diving and not resurfacing.
According to police, the man had been free diving with his girlfriend. After a few successful dives — where the diver holds his breath under water for several minutes— he did another controlled dive but after several minutes the man’s girlfriend realized he had not re-surfaced.
She jumped into the lake and located the submerged man and brought him to the surface. Several people assisted in getting the unresponsive man to shore including two paddle boarders who happened to be in the area.
CPR was performed on the man until air ambulance transported him to hospital.
RCMP officers responded via boat and by land. The ambulance paramedics and the firefighters attended and lifesaving procedures were performed, said Cpl.Joe Duncan of the Kelonwa RCMP
The man was transported to hospital via air ambulance.
On Monday, Duncan said he believed the man was in intensive care at KGH.
Duncan said anyone diving in the lake should either be experienced or go with someone who is.
He said he did not know the injured man’s experience level.
