The body of a 12 year old girl from 70 Mile House was found before noon today at the north end of Skaha Lake in Penticton. She is presumed to have drowned Sunday after going missing while playing in the lake with friends. The coroner has now taken over the file.

The girl has been identified as Ida Lynn Marie Holt-Scherer, a resident of the south Cariboo.

Ida, along with her family, was on vacation, visiting extended family and friends in the Penticton area. On the afternoon of July 29, she and another girl were standing on a sandbar, which forms naturally where a channel meets the main part of Skaha Lake. The sandbar was seen to give way, sweeping the two girls into the main part of the lake.

The second girl was rescued by a passerby and was not physically injured. A search began immediately for Ida, but it was not until the morning of July 31 that searchers were able to locate her and recover her body. She was found about 200 metres from shore in water about nine metres deep, about 60 metres from where she had last been seen.

The BC Coroners Service is continuing to investigate this death.

Ida’s family is aware of her death. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service requests that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.

The BC Coroners Service expresses its condolences to Ida’s family and friends, and its appreciation to the Penticton RCMP and the search-and-rescue volunteers who aided in the search and recovery efforts.

Thanks to Castanet for the files – Photo from B. Michelle