More than 100 people died from drowning in British Columbia last year, with 21% of those deaths occurring on Vancouver Island, according to a new report from the BC Coroners Service.
According to the report, 2023, BC witnessed a concerning increase in accidental drowning deaths, with a total of 101 incidents, translating to a rate of 1.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
To put the above stat in perspective, over the past decade, from 2013 to 2023, the average annual number of drowning deaths was 78, with an average rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population.
Drowning incidents are notably higher during the summer months, peaking in July with an average of 13.1 deaths each year.
The report reveals a pronounced gender disparity, with males accounting for 79% of all drowning victims. Age-wise, individuals aged 19-29 represented 20% of the deaths, followed by those aged 50-59 and those aged 70 and above, each accounting for 16%.
See also: Here’s how to spot when someone may be drowning (VIDEO)
Most drowning victims were residents from the province, comprising 89% of the total cases. Geographically, 30% of all accidental drowning deaths occurred in the Interior Health Authority region.
Rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds are the most common sites for these tragic incidents, each accounting for 28% of the deaths. Specifically, the Fraser River was the most deadly with 51 deaths, followed by the Thompson River (9 deaths) and Columbia River (8 deaths).
Among lakes, Okanagan Lake saw the highest number of fatalities with 29 deaths, followed by Harrison Lake (12 deaths) and Shuswap Lake (9 deaths).
On Vancouver Island, drownings are on the rise, a trend that has become a significant concern, according to Dr. Murray Fyfe, a medical health officer at Island Health.
Last year, Vancouver Island saw 32 drownings, more than doubling the number from two years ago and marking the highest total in over a decade.
“Our report looked at a 10-year period between 2013 and 2023, and we can see there is a higher percentage of drownings in the province during the months of May through August,” said John McNamee, acting chief coroner of BC Coroners Service.
“Our report gives great clarity to the many dangers that water can hold. In 2023, just seven of those who died were not from BC, so we hope both residents and visitors will take extra steps to enjoy water-based activities safely.”
Last month, a 17-year-old boy died several days after a drowning incident at Langford Lake.
Keron McKay was swimming near a floating dock at Langford Lake when nearby swimmers saw him go under and not resurface.
He was pulled out of the water by fellow swimmers and brought onto the floating dock, where life-saving efforts were made by those present.
Paramedics arrived soon after and were ferried to McKay by civilians with boats. He was then transported back to the lake’s main dock using the Langford Fire Department’s vessel.
McKay was subsequently taken to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, it was confirmed on a GoFundMe page that he died from his injuries.
Due to funding constraints, many lakes around Greater Victoria lack lifeguards.
In response, the Capital Regional District (CRD) is considering adding safety measures at two of the region’s most popular swimming spots: Hamsterly Beach at Elk Lake and Thetis Lake.
These measures would include installing loaner lifejackets and life rings. It’s unclear whether Langford Lake would be included in the safety enhancements.
Between 2013 and 2022, alcohol and/or drugs were found to be a contributing factor in 39 per cent of drowning deaths, according to the report.
