An international high school student drowned at Thetis Lake on Friday afternoon, View Royal Fire Rescue said.
Firefighters, paramedics and RCMP were called to a report of a swimmer in distress. While en route, they received an update advising that the swimmer had gone under water and had not resurfaced.
The victim was found in about 15 feet of water about 10 feet from shore, said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst. Firefighters recovered the body shortly after 6 p.m.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, a young man drown[ing] just feet from the shore as his classmates witnessed it but couldn’t help him. It was a difficult scene for all involved and our thoughts are with his family and classmates,” Hurst said in a statement.
