This story is an update of the news first carried by the Times Chronicle in the morning of Tuesday, July 26 – that story can be found here.
By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Searches last night and today by the Osoyoos RCMP have failed to find the 41-year old Oliver resident who went missing trying to save one of his dogs and is presumed drowned in Osoyoos Lake.
As first reported by the Times Chronicle Tuesday morning, Osoyoos RCMP responded to a 911 call of a man who had gone under the water in Osoyoos Lake and failed to resurface.
The missing man and his friend were stationary in the middle of Osoyoos Lake in the missing individual’s surf boat while he was playing fetch with his dogs.
“It appears one of the dogs became distressed and the man swam out to help it,” said Osoyoos RCMP commander Sgt. Jason Bayda, who added the individual was not wearing a life jacket at the time he jumped into the water.
“The man and dog became separated from the boat due to the wind and the friend witnessed the dog climb on the man’s back, weighing him down.” Both dogs were able to make it safely back to the boat.
Osoyoos residents living near the lake told Times Chronicle that the wind was strong on Monday evening resulting in very few boats out on the water, an unusual situation given the hot sunny weather.
Police, civilians and friends of the missing searched until after dark with no luck. Police, with the assistance of Osoyoos Fire Rescue continued the search for several hours starting in the morning of Tuesday, July 26 using side-scanning sonar.
“Sadly the man has not yet been located and this has now become a recovery mission.”
Osoyoos RCMP Commander Sgt. Jason Bayda and Osoyoos Fire Rescue Chief Corey Kortmeyer depart from Osoyoos Marina Tuesday morning. Don Urquhart photo
As previously reported by the Times Chronicle, RCMP dive teams have been requested but due to shortage of manpower will only arrive in Osoyoos early next week, according to Bayda.
“Tragically it appears the man lost his life, saving that of his dogs,” said Bayda.
“The Osoyoos RCMP would like to express their deepest condolences to the missing man’s family and friends during this most difficult time.”
Bayda has asked the boating public to “give us some room and remain away from the police boat,” during its searches. He also asked the public to keep an eye out for the man who is described as Caucasian and was last seen wearing orange swim shorts.
He also repeated advice to ensure everyone wears a lifejacket “whether you are a good swimmer or not.”
“We recognize that people swim off their boats all the time and not many wear a life jacket when they do, it’s a normal thing but things can happen so fast,” he warned.
The Times Chronicle will continue to update as this story develops.
