It was a tragic start to the weekend on Friday.
Squamish RCMP say that this afternoon, a man was located unresponsive in the Squamish River where it meets the Cheakamus River, west of the Squamish Municipal Airport.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and Squamish Search and Rescue located the man and initiated life-saving measures; however, he did not survive, police said in a news release.
BCEHS told The Squamish Chief that the agency received a call at 11:58 a.m. July 25, about a person in need of medical assistance on the Squamish River near the Cheakamus River.
“An ambulance with primary care paramedics and an advanced care paramedic response unit responded to the scene. No patients were transported to hospital,” said BCEHS spokesperson Bowen Osoko.
Based on the information received, the RCMP said that two individuals were operating personal watercrafts on the river when they became separated.
“Upon relocating the second rider, the first individual found him unresponsive with his [life-jacket] keeping him afloat and pulled him to shore,” police said.
Squamish RCMP will be working with BC Coroners Service to determine the circumstances surrounding the death; however, based on the initial information, it is believed to be a medical event.
The BC Coroners Service did not immediately respond to a request for information from The Squamish Chief.
Other emergency calls Friday
Squamish Search and Rescue said on social media that they responded to multiple calls today. They said they had “great teamwork” with Squamish Fire Rescue.
