A message from Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells:
A heartfelt thank you and job well done by all involved.
This could have been a deadly start to our holiday season
Again the whole Town says thanks
Let’s be careful out there!
On Sunday June 30 at approximately 1:43 a.m. police received a report that several people had jumped off the Osoyoos Bridge on Main Street and had been swept out into the lake.
While RCMP members responded with the Police boat, other officers confirmed that 2 females and 1 male had been swept far from shore toward Haynes Point south of Osoyoos and all were screaming for help in the dark. The three were in distress as they were under the influence of alcohol and were not wearing life jackets.
Two Police officers in the area summoned help from a civilian who had a boat close by. A search was conducted using the RCMP boat and the private boat. Three other men had been on shore and heard the screams for help so they paddled out in a small dingy to assist. The men were able to pull the 24 year old female from Grand Forks into the dingy as the rescue boats arrived.
The male was located and was thrown a life vest to stay afloat as he was struggling to stay above water while the second 28 year old female from Kelowna was pulled to the safety of the private rescue boat from the side of the dingy where she was keeping afloat. The 28 year old man from Kelowna was pulled to the safety of the Police boat in an exhausted condition.
The 3 male rescuers and the female from the dingy were transferred onto the Police boat. The trio rescued were transported to the awaiting BC Ambulance paramedics who examined them on shore.
They were cold but suffered no injuries and were released by BC Ambulance.
The 3 subjects are very fortunate to have been located and rescued in the dark. The strong current had pushed them far out into the lake and more than half way to Haynes Point. Alcohol and water are a bad combination and had it not been for the quick response and efforts from the men from shore with the dingy, the private boat and operator, and the Police Officers and their boat this could have ended in a triple tragedy.