Alcohol intoxication and a failure to wear a lifejacket may have been contributing factors in a Prince George man's boating death south of Burns Lake last summer, a coroner has found.
A toxicology test found the blood-alcohol level for Brett Smith, 36, was .31 per cent, according to a report from coroner Wendy Flanagan, released Monday, nearly four times the legal limit.
Prior to heading out onto Takysie Lake, Smith purchased groceries and a 26-ounce bottle of alcohol, as indicated by a receipt.
Smith's body was recovered from the lake, about 50 km south of Burns Lake, on Aug. 24, 2013, nearly two-and-a-half weeks after he was reported missing.
According to Flanagan's report, Smith had rented a cabin and a motor boat from Takysie Lake in the afternoon of Aug. 6, 2013.
"He was provided with a life jacket and instructions on how to operated the boat, and set out to take photographs," Flanagan said.
On Aug. 8, 2013, he was reported missing to the Burns Lake RCMP and the boat was located later the same day. A lifejacket, a two litre pop bottle with remnants of a mixture of alcohol and pop, as well as a cell phone and camera were located in the boat.
In a last outgoing message found on his cell, Smith said he had run out of gas and needed help but provided an incorrect location. He tried sending the message shortly after 9 p.m., but the attempt failed due to a lack of cell service.
"An inspection of the boat indicated that there was fuel in the tank and the motor was in neutral," Flanagan said, and added medical records indicated Smith had no significant health concerns.
Flanagan found Smith's death was by accidental drowning and that alcohol and failure to wear a lifejacket "may have been contributing factors."
