In a heartbreaking incident on June 23, 2024, an 11-year-old boy drowned at Wasa Lake near Kimberley after an inflatable tube carrying three children flipped over in high winds and rough waters. The boy, who did not make it to shore, was found by Kimberley RCMP officers and a resident.
The search for the child began immediately, with officers and the resident using a boat to scan the lake. Within minutes, they spotted the child underwater. An officer jumped into the lake to retrieve the boy, bringing him onto the boat where CPR was performed, according to a press release by Kimberley RCMP.
Once ashore, the boy was met by BC Emergency Health Services and STARS air ambulance. He was rushed to East Kootenay Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Sgt. Steven Woodcox, Kimberley RCMP Detachment Commander, expressed his gratitude for the public’s assistance and commended the officers, first responders, and community members’ heroic efforts. “Kimberley RCMP Victim Services are supporting the family during this difficult time,” he added.
