Police divers have found the body of a 47-year-old Burnaby man who drowned in Buntzen Lake near Coquitlam on Tuesday.
Coquitlam RCMP Staff. Sgt. Tony Porato said the man was in the water at around 4 p.m. when his family noticed he was in distress and called for help.
Porato said Mounties don’t believe any foul play occurred and it is simply a “tragic incident.”
Police say the man was a “non-swimmer.”
“Our victim services are doing all they can to help to help the family through this heartbreaking time,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.
The death comes about a month after a 19-year-old Surrey man drowned in the same lake, and Porato reminded people to take precautions in the water.
“Buntzen Lake is a beautiful place to be at but you’ve got to be aware of your surroundings,” he said, adding it’s a water reservoir so it gets deep quickly.
“The water is pretty shallow for the first 30 feet or so from the shore but then it drops off really rapidly and it’s over 100 feet of water.”
He recommended wearing a personal flotation device in the water or swimming in pairs if both people are strong swimmers.
The Canadian Press
