Body of 13-Year-Old Girl Recovered From Cultus Lake After Three-Day Search
Shraddha Tripathy
8/12/20262 min read
RCMP have recovered the body of a 13-year-old girl from Cultus Lake in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley following a three-day search of the popular swimming and recreation area.
Police said their underwater recovery team located the teenager at approximately 2 p.m. PT Monday, about 20 metres below the surface of the lake.
Chilliwack RCMP Cpl. Carmen Kiener said investigators believe the girl may have suffered a medical emergency while on a paddleboard Saturday before falling into the water.
She was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
“This is an absolute tragedy. No one comes to the lake thinking that this will happen to them. And we are deeply sorry for the loss of the youth,” Kiener said.
Search Focused on Entrance Bay
Police launched a search after receiving a report of a possible drowning early Saturday afternoon.
Search crews concentrated their efforts around the Entrance Bay area of Cultus Lake.
Boaters and members of the public were asked to stay away from the search zone because activity on the water could disturb heavy silt on the lake bottom and make underwater visibility even more difficult for recovery teams.
The search continued through the weekend before the RCMP underwater team located the girl Monday afternoon.
The investigation has since been turned over to the B.C. Coroners Service.
RCMP Warn of Frequent Water Emergencies
Following the recovery, Chilliwack RCMP urged people to take additional precautions while swimming, paddleboarding or participating in other water activities.
Accidental drownings in British Columbia have risen sharply this summer, with the province reporting a 54 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
Kiener said emergency responders are also regularly called to near-drownings at Cultus Lake.
About an hour after the teenager’s body was recovered Monday, another paddleboarder who was not wearing a life jacket fell into the lake and became distressed.
Two people attempted to help him, but one of the rescuers also ended up in difficulty.
RCMP officers who were already in the area were able to retrieve both people from the water.
Other Near-Drowning Reported Earlier This Month
Kiener said another serious incident occurred at Cultus Lake earlier this month when a man began drowning and had to be rescued by bystanders.
He was subsequently taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“So it is a very common thing that is happening almost weekly,” Kiener said. “Water is unforgiving and you need to know the risks.”
RCMP are reminding people to wear a properly fitted life jacket, ensure they have the swimming ability required for the conditions and avoid swimming alone.
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