Update, March 3, 2016
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died in Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna on March 1.
He was Donald Brian Jules, aged 40, of Westbank.
Jules was seen to enter Okanagan Lake from the wharf near Gellatly Road shortly before 8 p.m. on March 1, 2016, and shortly thereafter was noted to be in medical distress. RCMP and BC Ambulance Service responded quickly and he was rescued from the lake and transported to Kelowna General Hospital. Unfortunately Mr. Jules could be not resuscitated.
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.
Mr. Jules's family has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service requests that the media respect theirprivacy during this difficult time.
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West Kelowna RCMP have not yet released the name of a swimmer, a 40-year-old man, who was found drowned in Okanagan Lake near the Gellatly Bay area.
Efforts by responding emergency crews to the scene were unable to revive the swimmer, who is believed to have been submerged in the cold Okanagan Lake waters for more than half an hour.
The police were initially called to the scene at 8:02 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, after a man was observed diving into the lake and then not resurfacing. Some of his personal belongings were found on the Gellatly Bay Wharf, and the swimmer was found underwater near the wharf.
Efforts to revive him using CPR techniques were carried out by West Kelowna firefighters on the shore and the man was eventually transferred to Kelowna General Hospital while receiving advanced life support treatment. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The West Kelowna RCMP will continue to assist the BC Coroner’s Service in this investigation.