A group of Good Samaritans stopped to help rescue a man from Skaha Lake after he drove off Eastside Road on Tuesday, April 30.
Paul Bruff was one of those who helped the older driver escape from his vehicle on April 30. Photos of the rescue were shared on social media.
Two men and a woman jumped down to help the driver out of the back of the minivan as it sank into the lake.
According to the driver’s daughter, the woman who was the second to jump in was the one who grabbed a stone to break open the back window and help him out.
“Norlene is a strong and resilient woman who recognized my dad’s van in the lake,” Jennifer Sanderson said in an email. “Matt and Sean were also incredibly brave and did an amazing job to help my dad. He turns 90 in two weeks. We are having a big party for him and are so glad we don’t have to have a funeral instead.”
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Bruff posted a warning to drive slowly past the scene, which remained busy even after the rescue was finished.
Other commenters noted that Eastside Road has a history of being treacherous and that all drivers need to take care traveling along it.
As for the driver of the minivan? Bruff answered a couple of questions about his health from commenters.
“He’s perfectly fine,” Bruff said. “He was almost making jokes about it.”