A 17-year-old is in hospital in critical condition after a water rescue on Langford Lake Saturday afternoon.
Langford Fire was called to the lake just after 2 p.m. to support BC Ambulance and West Shore RCMP in the rescue.
The incident happened near the lake’s floating swim dock, just off Westhills Drive.
“When we arrived with our fire boat, both paramedics and RCMP were on a swim dock about 200 feet from the main dock where CPR was in progress on an individual,” Chief Chris Aubrey, Langford Fire, said.
In a post on social media, police said a number of bystanders pulled the 17-year-old from the water and administered life-saving measures until emergency crews arrived.
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This afternoon @WestshoreRCMP attended Langford Lake for a report of a drowning. A 17-year-old youth was retrieved from the water and taken to the hospital where they are receiving on going care. Several bystanders assisted by pulling the youth out of the water and administering…
— West Shore RCMP (@WestshoreRCMP) June 16, 2024
The teen was then transported by the fire rescue boat to an ambulance. The teen was then taken to hospital, where they are receiving treatment in critical condition.
Police have not yet confirmed how the 17-year-old ended up in the water.
“You know you have this at Thetis Lake that it always happens at, then you’re hoping it won’t happen here,” Laura Klappe, area resident, told CHEK News.
According to Aubrey, reports of drownings are very rare in Langford, happening every four to five years, whereas Thetis Lake has reports of drownings every year.
He said this unfortunate circumstance is a stark reminder of how dangerous bodies of water can be and how fast a fun day at the lake can turn dark.
“There are times and opportunities for us to learn from it,” Aubrey said.
Those heading to the water this summer are reminded to always swim or boat with another person who can call for help in the case of an emergency and to never leave children unattended.
Aubrey added that no one should swim or boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you should refresh your swimming skills before going onto the water, and you should always wear a well-fitting personal floatation device on any form of boat, paddleboard, or kayak.
“I know that they can be cumbersome, but they save lives, and we want to make sure anytime we’re out on the water that we have personal floatation devices,” he explained.
West Shore RCMP says the teen remains in critical condition on Monday morning.
“There were many bystanders who acted quickly to help this young man,” Insp. Stephen Rose, officer in charge of operations of West Shore RCMP said in a news release.
“There were witnesses who called police right away, others that jumped in the water and applied life-saving measures, and boaters who quickly ferried emergency personnel over to the floating dock.”
SEE ALSO: Near-drowning in Tofino prompts warning from Parks Canada
Mackenzie Read
