Who is drowning?
* Death Rate per 100,000 / Year
Canada’s
Drowning
Prevention
Charity
Canada’s
Drowning
Prevention
Charity
Canada’s
Drowning
Prevention
Charity
Canada’s
Drowning
Prevention
Charity
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Drowning is preventable. Here at the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon, we take this statement seriously and know that the primary way to prevent drowning is through creatively communicating preventative drowning information through data visualization.
While our Drowning Board provides concrete numbers, our interactive Drowning Map provides the location and a synopsis of the circumstances surrounding drowning in our area. It can happen quickly; be informed, be prepared and stay safe!
4 Days
1
After a 2 day search, the body of a kayaker who had been missing since Aug 22 was found by the RCMP's Underwater Recovery Team. The RCMP responded to a call on Saturday afternoon, reporting that a man had disappeared after his kayak had over turned. The RCMP and BC Coroners Service are continuing to investigate the cause of the man's death. The RCMP reported that the kayaker hadn't been wearing a lifejacket.
First Responders were called to Twin Falls Bridge in Lynn Canyon on Sunday afternoon after a reported cliff-jumping accident. A witness at the scene reported that a man had been cliff jumping but never surfaced after entering the water. The victim's body was recovered a few hours later.
The RCMP responded to a possible drowning at Kootenay National Park. A Calgary woman had accidentally slipped over the edge of Marble Canyon into Kootenay River. The woman had been posing for a photo with her partner, when she lost footing and fell into the river. Her body was recovered approximately 1 kilometre downstream.
A 29-year-old man was swimming near Tug Boat Beach when he failed to resurface. West Kelowna RCMP and Fire and Rescue were unable to locate the man's body, and reported that he is presumed to have drowned.
Emergency crews responded to a reported drowning near Hale Creek Recreation Site, outside of Harrison Hot Springs. The victim's body was recovered on Monday by local Search and Rescue volunteers on the west side of the lake. The RCMP and B.C. Coroner's Service are in early stages of their investigation of the incident.
A 25-year-old man had gone for a swim at Davis lake after finishing a hike with friends. He swam from the shore to the float in the middle of the lake with a friend. As they began to swim back to shore, his friend decided to turn back to the float, saying it was "too far" of a distance. His friends believe that he most likely got a leg cramp and was unable to make it back to the shore.
Emergency crews were called to a residential address in North Vancouver, after a man in his 70s had reportedly drowned. The BC Coroners Service is investigating the cause of the incident.
The RCMP received a call from Quesnel Lake on Thursday night, in response to an incident on the water. Witnesses reported that a man had been boating on the water and appeared to have gone missing from the boat, when it was seen circling with no one aboard. The body of the missing 48-year-old man was recovered by the Central Cariboo Search and Rescue on August 14.
Emergency crews responded to reports of a drowning at Okanagan Lake near Penticton, BC. A 61-year-old man had been swimming in the lake and lost consciousness in the water. Witnesses pulled the man from the water and began CPR, until emergency crews transported him to the hospital. According to the RCMP, the victim was unable to be resuscitated and passed away at the hospital.
A 20-year-old man died of drowning in Browning Lake, near Squamish. Friends of the victim alerted the police that the man had entered the water after falling off of the inflatable device he was floating on. The victim was recovered from the water by first responders, provided lifesaving measures, and transported to the hospital but he did not survive.
A 35-year-old man was swimming in the Slocan River, northwest of Winlaw when he unexpectedly went under water and failed to resurface. The man had been accompanied by an acquaintance, who contacted 911 from a local business. Search and Rescue teams recovered the man's body after 2 days of searching.
Police responded to a cliff jumping incident near Rattlesnake Island. A 33-year-old Alberta man had jumped from a cliff into Okanagan Lake and failed to resurface. The Search and Rescue team members were unable to locate the man; he is presumed to have drowned.
According to local RCMP, a man went missing near the Canal Flats area of the Kootenay River. The 43-year-old man from Edmonton, was walking on a sand bar in the river when his dog began struggling in the river's strong current. The man fell into the water as he tried to rescue his dog and he was swept away by the current failing to resurface. The search for the man's body was called off after search and rescue crews were unable to locate him.
A 20-year-old man was rescued after he disappeared while swimming at Alta Lake near Whistler and was treated by paramedics at the scene then transported to hospital. The next day RCMP announced that the man had died as a result of the incident.
A 22-year-old man drowned at Cultus Lake while swimming with friends. He was last seen jumping off a dock and swimming along the shoreline. Paramedics were called to the beach around 3 p.m. At approximately 4 p.m. emergency crews pulled a body from the lake and began CPR. The RCMP later confirmed the incident was fatal.
Salmon Arm Search and Rescue received a call Thursday afternoon, reporting that a man had disappeared while swimming out to a dock on Shuswap Lake, near Canoe Beach. The man is presumed to have drowned while swimming; however, RCMP and Search and Rescue were unable to recover his body. The victim is believed to be a 22-year-old from Edmonton, AB.
On July 21 at 6:45 pm, West Shore RCMP, Metchosin Fire Rescue, and BC Ambulance paramedics responded to a 911 call at Matheson Lake after a reported drowning. A 32 year old woman had been rescued from the water near a popular swimming and hiking park. Witnesses at the scene responded to the woman's distress and began performing CPR until RCMP arrived. The woman was transported to hospital in critical condition and was confirmed deceased by the Coroners Service the next day.
A 23 year old man drowned at Six Mile beach, north off Nelson, after venturing out onto a popular sandspit. The body was recovered by the RCMP on Sunday, July 19. Witnesses reported seeing a man and woman kayaking Saturday afternoon. After reaching the beach, the pair took off their lifejackets and walked to the beach point, which extends out under shallow water into the Lake. The woman began calling for help as both her and the man struggled to swim. Witnesses reported seeing the man's head go under water and resurface 3 times, before failing to surface. Witnesses were able to rescue the woman, but were unable to rescue the man.
A 65-year-old man drowned in Okanagan Lake while swimming near the Jubilee mobile home park around 1:45 p.m.. When he failed to surface, witnesses on scene located and pulled the man from the water and began CPR until emergency services arrived. The RCMP reported that attempts to resuscitate the victim were unsuccessful.
A young male was swept away by the current of the Fraser River after he entered the water to retrieve a football, around 9:30 pm. After entering the water, the young male was able to retrieve the football, but could not swim back to the dock. Two witnesses attempted to rescue him after noticing his distress and inability to return to the shore; however, they were unable to rescue him before returning to safety. A search was conducted by the RCMP marine unit and coast guard until 1 a.m., and was continued on the morning of July 7. The victim's body was recovered around noon, near the site of the incident.
RCMP responded to a call at 4:15 p.m. after receiving a call claiming there was a body floating down the Coquihalla River. Other witnesses reported that they had seen a man attempting to cross the river on an inner tube, but that he did not make it to the other side. The two sightings are believed to be the same person. Two Search and Rescue teams conducted ground and air searches for the man.
A man, who had been reported missing as of June 30, was believed to have gone paddle boarding. His board was found in the reeds at the north end of the lake shortly after his disappearance. The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team located and recovered a body from Okanagan Lake on July 6, which was later identified as the missing senior.
A 32-year-old man died after a cliff diving incident. According to his brother, the victim had jumped off one of the cliffs at Rattlesnake Point, landed on his stomach, and failed to re-surface.
A man drowned in Mill Creek after rescuing his daughter who fell into the water near a waterfall. Bystanders pulled the man from the water and started CPR, which was continued by first responders who arrived at the scene. Attempts to save the victim were unsuccessful.
A woman is presumed to have drowned following a motorcycle accident west of Kaslo. RCMP reported that the incident occurred on Highway 31 A when a motorcycle with two occupants veered off the road and into the Kaslo River. One of the occupants, a man in his 70's, was able to escape and swim back to the highway to find help. The other occupant, a woman in her 60's, is believed to have been swept down the river. Her helmet and articles of clothing were found by the RCMP. Search efforts to find the victim's body were unsuccessful.
A man drowned while kayaking in the Slocan River near Perry Siding. Police reported that the victim was a skilled paddler, but overturned while navigating in the side channels in the area on the evening of June 17. He was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident. Neighbours were able to pull the man out of the river but could not revive him.
A B.C. Ferries employee was working at the company's fleet and maintenance yard when he fell into the Fraser River. RCMP responded to a missing person report and conducted an extensive land/marine search and rescue operation until the victim's body was recovered. WorkSafeBC is investigating the death, as RCMP officers reported the incident appeared to be workplace related.
The body of a 22-year-old man was recovered from the Vedder River by Chilliwack Search and Rescue crews. The man reportedly became distressed after entering the river, and his friends had unsuccessfully attempted to retrieve him from the water.
Two children drowned after a side-by-side accident that occurred at Foley Lake in Chilliwack. A family of five had been in the vehicle when they went off road, lost control, and became submerged in the water. Witnesses at the scene attempted to help but two children were not found. The two adults and one child were able to escape.
Two children drowned after a side-by-side accident that occurred at Foley Lake in Chilliwack. A family of five had been in the vehicle when they went off road, lost control, and became submerged in the water. Witnesses at the scene attempted to help but two children were not found. The two adults and one child were able to escape.
A boat capsized in Pitt River; three of five people aboard were rescued. The body of the adult female victim was recovered by the response team, the male victim was missing, and presumed to have drowned. The three survivors were taken to the hospital with hypothermia and shock.
A boat capsized in Pitt River; three of five people aboard were rescued. The body of the adult female victim was recovered by the response team, the male victim was missing, and presumed to have drowned. The three survivors were taken to the hospital with hypothermia and shock.
A body was recovered by the Nicola Valley Search and Rescue of a man who had walked on to the ice to check a fishing rod when the ice gave way and he fell into the cold water.
Searchers recovered the bodies of three 20-year-old men who drowned near Sooke over the weekend. The three victims and their truck were found in the fast-moving Sooke River.
Searchers recovered the bodies of three 20-year-old men who drowned near Sooke over the weekend. The three victims and their truck were found in the fast-moving Sooke River.
Searchers recovered the bodies of three 20-year-old men who drowned near Sooke over the weekend. The three victims and their truck were found in the fast-moving Sooke River.
78% Male
22 % Female
Age 20 - 34
Age 50 - 64
Age 65 +
* Death Rate per 100,000 / Year
Lake / Pond
River
Ocean
Other
Bathtub
Pool
Drowning in a Lifeguard supervised setting
OF DROWNINGS OCCURRED FROM
May
To
Sept
Aquatic
Boating
Non-Aquatic
Powerboat
Canoe
Inflatable Craft
High Risk Groups:
The Lifesaving Society conducts research into fatal and non-fatal drowning, aquatic injury, and rescue interventions. The Lifesaving Society focuses WaterSmart drowning prevention efforts on people most at risk – like men fishing in small boats - or on those who can make a significant difference, such as parents of young children. Ongoing research and analysis support the Society’s evidence-based water rescue training and WaterSmart drowning prevention education.
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