B.C. government urges caution as drowning deaths see 54-per-cent spike from last year

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government has issued a notice warning people to be vigilant about water safety after a spike in drowning deaths in the last few months.

The province says in a statement that there have been 40 accidental drownings in B.C. from May 1 to July 16, a 54 per cent increase from the 26 deaths reported during the same period last year.

The latest happened Saturday when a 67-year-old man drowned while trying to swim across Okanagan Lake as part of an event, with another participant finding the victim unresponsive in the water two hours after the swim started.

There have been at least two more drowning fatalities at Okanagan Lake since mid-June, including a man thrown from an inflatable tube being towed by a boat and a U.S. kayaker whose vessel capsized due to windy conditions.

Data from B.C.’s Coroners Service shows that July and August typically have the highest monthly fatality rates, averaging 13.9 and 12.4 deaths respectively between 2015 and 2025 while accounting for 39 per cent of annual drownings.

The province says alcohol and drugs were factors in 40 per cent of drowning deaths during that time, with 86 per cent of victims in 2025 being male and 23 per cent being over the age of 70.

“It is our hope that people will take a serious look at the data we are sharing and make smart choices when planning any water-related activity in the coming months,” says B.C. Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2026.

The Canadian Press