Another drowning incident has occurred at Cultus Lake, a popular campground near Vancouver , marking the second fatality in less than two weeks. The Upper Fraser Valley RCMP reported that around 1:10 p.m. on August 20, Chilliwack RCMP received a report of a man missing in the waters near Entrance Bay. He had previously rowed an inflatable boat in the lake. Police and multiple emergency services immediately arrived at the scene to search, and a diving rescue team was also deployed.
An air ambulance helicopter was also put on standby, ready to fly to the scene after rescuing the person. Police asked the public to avoid the area around the entrance bay, whether on land or water, so that emergency responders could safely conduct search and rescue operations. At 2:11 p.m., the man was pulled from the water and CPR was performed on him on the shore, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. The case has been transferred to the BC Coroner Service. Chilliwack RCMP thanked the Lake Calters Fire Department and the Chilliwack Search and Rescue Team for their assistance.
Spokesperson Carmen Kiener stated that no one wants such a tragedy to occur during water recreation and offered her condolences to the deceased’s family and friends. On August 8, a 13-year-old girl also fell into the water while paddleboarding on Lake Cultus due to a sudden illness and died because she was not wearing a life jacket.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are warning the public about potential hazards at Lake Cultus. Some sections of the lake have very steep underwater drops, which could cause swimmers to quickly enter areas of depth exceeding their own height; the lower water temperature can cause fatigue and reduce swimming ability; and strong winds can quickly form, blowing swimmers and boaters away from the shore. Earlier, an electrical leak at the nearby Cultus Lake Waterpark injured several people and is still under repair.