Calgary man drowns in Shuswap Lake
Posted Aug 28, 2013 12:07 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 25-year-old Calgary man has been identified by RCMP as the victim of a presumed drowning on BC’s Shuswap Lake.
The tragedy took place late Saturday afternoon, and Mounties say it followed an attempt by occupants of a houseboat to retrieve a hat from the water.
Police say Kevin Boutilier was one of several people who jumped into the water, but the weather and lake conditions deteriorated, causing the houseboat to drift away from the group.
Boutilier got into distress, and police say he sunk below the water’s surface, despite the efforts of his friends who were alongside and attempting to help him.
RCMP say search-and-rescue officials and police have not been able to recover Boutilier, even though they were assisted by a helicopter.
They say they are now considering further recovery efforts, but the lake is very deep and its bottom will pose challenges for sonar and divers.
