Salt Spring Island residents are perplexed by how a double-drowning could have happened on a placid lake.
Ray Fraser, who lives on Weston Lake near the area where the incident occurred, said he was in his garden on Tuesday when he heard a call for help.
“I heard someone say: ‘Hey, I’m going to need some help over here.’ It was a very matter-of-fact tone, not too startling,” Fraser said.
“I wouldn’t have guessed anything was wrong.”
Minutes later, he heard sirens and said he’s certain the two were linked.
Fraser, 73, has lived on Salt Spring Island all his life, and said there hasn’t been a drowning on Weston Lake in his lifetime.
The B.C. Coroners Service has confirmed that two men in their 20s died, after slipping under the surface. It’s investigation is still ongoing.
It was a tragic end to what was supposed to be an early-evening swim for three friends, Vancouver Island regional coroner Matt Brown said.
“The first one was heading out to the dock and obviously got into trouble, and the second went out to attempt to save, to help or assist, and he got into trouble, as well there,” Brown said.
Brown did not believe the men were familiar with the area.
The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the men’s swimming ability, as well as undertaking a toxicology examination, in case alcohol or drugs were involved.
“Drowning can happen really quickly,” Brown said.
"Drowning is a silent killer,” says an online report from the Lifesaving Society, B.C. and Yukon branch. "Drowning victims rarely call or wave or signal for help because they can’t keep their head or arms above water.”
The deaths are not considered suspicious.
Weston Lake has a surface area of 18.5 hectares and a mean depth of 5.9 metres.
Karen Beuker, who owns a property near the lake, said the floor of the lake drops off a few metres from shore, near the public access area where the incident occurred.
Sound travels incredibly well on the water, she said.
Robert Storey, who lives on nearby Reynolds Road, said the lake is mostly used by locals, but that’s changing.
“More and more over the years, we get a lot of tourists,” he said.
Jeri Sparshu was at the lake just before the incident and spent time at the dock, but said he didn’t see the men.
“At 5:30 p.m. when we left, there were probably five people at the dock and there were kids in some open kayaks paddling around,” he said.
“It’s shocking, everything seemed fine.”
— With files from Cindy E. Harnett
