The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating after the body of a male swimmer was pulled from Thetis Lake Friday afternoon.
West Shore RCMP, View Royal Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance Service were called to the lake on Sept. 29 around 4:30 p.m. after witnesses saw a person go underwater and not resurface.
En route, responders were updated that the swimmer had gone under water and hadn’t resurfaced, said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst.
View Royal firefighters recovered the young man – identified as an international high school student – in about 15 feet of water, 10 feet from shore, shortly after 6 p.m.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, a young man drown just feet from the shore as his classmates witnessed it but couldn’t help him … it was a difficult scene for all involved and our thoughts are with his family and classmates,” Hurst said.
As the investigation is ongoing police won’t release further details at this time, RCMP said.
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