Swimmer missing after possible drowning in West Vancouver

There’s been another possible drowning in the Lower Mainland, this time in West Vancouver off of Dundarave Beach.

Police say an 85-year-old man who was visiting from Ontario was seen calling for help offshore just before 5 p.m. Monday. He disappeared shortly after.

Despite a search of the area by boat and a dive team being called in, the man was not found.

“We all hoped for a better outcome and share in the grief the affected family is going through,” said Sgt. Mark McLean. “The victim is presumed to have drowned and the WVPD are providing support to his family and friends.”

Several drownings in Metro Vancouver

The presumed drowning on the North Shore comes after several such incidents were reported in the past week.

On Friday, the Chilliwack RCMP confirmed a 55-year-old man drowned in the Vedder River, near Peach Park.

“He was possibly fishing, and possibly attempted to rescue his dog, that fell into the river,” Staff Sgt. Layne Penner told CityNews.

Then, on Saturday, a 14-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition after a near-drowning in Sasamat Lake in Port Moody.

“This was a very traumatic incident and there were hundreds of people on the beach when it occurred,” Const. Sam Zacharias said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the search for a 22-year-old in the Cultus Lake area resumed over the weekend after he is believed to have drowned last Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a BC Coroners Service report showed more people in the province died in the past few years due to accidental drownings. The data shows 86 people lost their lives in 2022, up from the 10-year average of 76 in B.C.

The service notes the deaths in 2022 closely align with numbers from 2020 and 2021, when 87 and 80 people drowned.

In comparison, 2017, 2018, and 2019 saw 71, 73, and 68 drownings, respectively.