Probe initiated into deaths of two swimmers close to shore

B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the mysterious deaths of two men who were close to shore when they slipped under the surface of a calm lake on Salt Spring Island last night.

Coroners Service spokeswoman Barb McLintock confirmed Wednesday a coroner was called to Weston Lake, off Beaver Point Road, on Tuesday evening. The Salt Spring Fire Department, the first emergency responders on the scene, was called out to the lake just after 6 p.m. about a drowning, said Acting Fire Chief Arjuna George.

Bystanders had already brought one man to shore and were performing CPR when firefighters arrived and took over attempts to revive the man.

As people in the lake used paddleboards to help find the second man, about 50 feet off shore, firefighters deployed their inland water rescue boat “to locate and retrieve that second patient,” said George.

Once the boat was launched, firefighters quickly spotted the man and pulled him on board and immediately started CPR, said George.

“Both men were in cardiac arrest when we pulled them out of the water,” said George. The men appeared to be in their 20s, he said.

Both men were transported by B.C. Ambulance to Lady Minto Hospital.

When the rescue was in full swing, there were about 21 firefighters, several rescue vehicles, Salt Spring RCMP officers and Search and Rescue members on the scene.

“We were putting everything towards it to make sure we could come out with the best outcome,” said George.

A third man who was with the men talked to Salt Spring RCMP on shore.

The incident happened close to shore. A floating public dock is beyond where the men were retrieved. Another private dock is to the side of the incident.

There were people swimming in the small lake and on shore when the incident happened.

“We offer our concerns and thoughts to the families and the friends and the community and everyone throughout the community who witnessed this event,” said George.

George said it was perplexing how both young men would drown on the otherwise calm lake so close to shore.