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Jul 31, 2026 2:54 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramanpreet kaur
A swimmer who was pulled from Okanagan Lake at Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna has died in hospital, marking the sixth drowning-related death in the lake over the past 40 days.
According to police, the swimmer suffered a medical emergency while in the water on Wednesday. Bystanders brought the person ashore before emergency crews transported them to Kelowna General Hospital in critical condition. The swimmer died in hospital the following day.
RCMP Cpl. Steven Lang said investigators have found no evidence to suggest the incident is suspicious or criminal in nature. The B.C. Coroners Service is continuing its investigation into the death.
According to the B.C. Coroners Service, Okanagan Lake is considered the province's deadliest lake. Recent fatalities on the lake have included incidents involving a capsized kayak, a tubing accident and a participant during a swimming event.
The Lifesaving Society B.C. and Yukon says drowning incidents across British Columbia have increased by 42 per cent this year, underscoring ongoing water safety concerns during the summer season.
