Firefighter Chris Blake attempts to reach Denilson Ventura-Becker with a lifeline. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
An Oliver teenager is lucky to be alive after falling through the ice on Tucelnuit Lake last week.
Sixteen-year-old Denilson Ventura-Becker was walking on the ice at Rotary Beach December 17 when he fell through.
Local resident Charlotte Burbeck just came home from Penticton when the victim’s brother flagged her down. She immediately called 9-1-1.
“The response was so quick,” Burbeck recalled, saying that police and firefighters arrived within a few minutes.
She credited one police officer (who didn’t want to be named) for taking action by jumping into the lake to save the boy.
“Without thought for himself, he (the officer) jumped in . . . it was the most selfless act.”
Unfortunately, the officer could not reach the boy and had to return to shore.
Burbeck praised the victim’s brother for acting quickly and notifying her of the emergency.
She went down to the shore and yelled at the victim to stay calm, while his brother called their mother to the scene.
Rob Graham from the Oliver Fire Department said they were initially called to assist the RCMP and ambulance. Some members of the department are trained in swift water rescue, but not ice rescue.
Graham said they arranged for someone to bring a canoe to the scene while member Chris Blake donned a dry suit and made his way onto the ice on a paddle board with a throw bag.
Unfortunately, Blake couldn’t get close enough to reach the victim with the bag (the boy was about 60 feet from shore).
Graham said the next plan of action was the canoe, which was manned by firefighters Matt Koenig and Travis Bolenback.
This time they were able to throw the bag directly to the boy, who grabbed onto it. Once close enough, the firefighters managed to pull the boy into the canoe, which was towed back to shore. Becker was then rushed to an awaiting ambulance and taken to the hospital. He was released later that evening after being treated for hypothermia.
Graham estimated that the boy was in the water for approximately 30 minutes.
Graham said he accidently fell in the lake while preparing the canoe, and within two seconds of hitting the water he was freezing.
He noted that hypothermia sets in fast and can quickly impair your motor functions.
Becker told CTV News that he couldn’t feel anything, noting that everything was “fuzzy” and he started to lose consciousness.
Graham said the rescue was not something they train for, but the end result was a success.
He estimated that the ice in that area of Rotary Beach was about three-quarters to an inch thick.
He agreed that the incident was a learning experience for everyone, especially for people who are considering walking on the ice. “It is something for parents to discuss with their children regarding safety; to have an adult check the ice first.”
Becker said he thought the ice was thick enough.
Graham also recommended that people let others know when they are going near the lake this time of year.
Burbeck recalled seeing some children playing at Rotary Beach and seeing their backpacks on the ice. “This lake is not to be fooled with,” she said.
Becker knows that now.
His mother, Jamie Becker, was so distraught during the ordeal that she wanted to go into the water to save her son, but was persuaded not to for fear she would have become a victim too. She thanked the emergency responders for showing up so quickly to save her son.
By Lyonel Doherty
