A boating mishap on a lake in West Kootenay has claimed the life of a teenage girl. Three young men remain unaccounted for.
According to police, the canoe accident occurred Saturday afternoon on Slocan Lake, near the town of New Denver, B.C. A passerby on a hiking trail spotted the partially submerged canoe with one person holding onto the boat, and the witness notified authorities.
Four young people, between the ages of 16 and 21, fell into the lake after their canoe capsized. The canoeists were not wearing life jackets. Three of the boaters hail from the West Kootenay village of New Denver while the fourth is from Gibsons, B.C.
An unconcious teenage girl was recovered on Saturday but succumbed to her injuries overnight in hospital. Search and rescue officials continue to search for signs of the remaining three boaters who have been identified as:
- 21-year-old Hayden Kyle
- 18-year-old Skye Donnet
- 15-year-old Jule Wilthsire-Padfire
A helicopter and boats were deployed in an attempt to locate the missing canoeists.The helicopter search was called off early Sunday afternoon.
On Monday, an RCMP dive team will begin an underwater search of the glacier-fed lake.
Dan Nicholson, who lent his canoe to the group, has confirmed the deceased is 19-year-old Lily Harmer-Taylor.
Slocan Lake is located along British Columbia’s Highway 6, approximately 30 kilometres north of Castlegar.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Penny Daflos
