The RCMP Underwater Recovery Unit recovered a drowning victim from Kamloops Lake near Bruker Marina at Tobiano, located between Kamloops and Savona.
The recovery of the victim's body was announced in an RCMP press release on Aug. 28.
The victim was a Thompson Rivers University international student who was reported to be in distress while swimming on Saturday, Aug. 23 before going under water. Despite the efforts of those nearby, the student had disappeared in the deep water and did not resurface.
Tk鈥檈ml煤ps Rural RCMP Detachment responded to the report of the swimmer in distress shortly after 5 p.m. on Aug. 23. Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) was tasked out by BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to respond to the incident later that evening.
KSAR said that an individual was reported to be swimming towards a dock near Bruker Marina, but did not reach it. Using an underwater drone, also known as a Remotely Operated Vehicle, and with the assistance of Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, the body was located by SAR on the lake floor at 111 p.m. on Aug. 23.
"Tobiano Fire Rescue, Kamloops Search and Rescue, Kamloops Fire Rescue along with the BC Conservation Service all attended and attempted to recover the body," said Cpl. Dana Napier, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson. "The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team was called and removed the body."
The BC Coroners Service is also investigating the incident. Any witnesses who have not yet shared information with police are asked to contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and cite file 2025-27751.
This is the second TRU student to drown in the area this year. On July 6, 27-year-old Jatin Garg was taken by the current while trying to retrieve a volleyball from the Thompson River near the Overlander Bridge in Kamloops. Garg's body was found on July 15 near MacArthur Island.
With files from Gary Barnes and Jordy Cunningham.
