The B.C. Coroners Service is urging people to to take extra care when in or around lakes, rivers and streams this long weekend.
Last weekend, the Coroners Service began investigations into eight water-related deaths around B.C. One of them occurred in Prince George, where the body of Colin Oliver Wesley, 65, was pulled out of the Fraser River near Lansdowne Road on Sunday afternoon.
His body was first seen near Fort George Park about four kilometres up the fast-moving river. The exact cause of his death remains under investigation.
A couple hours later, a jet boat was called out to rescue three teenage girls from an island on the Nechako River, near Wilson Park, where they became stranded after their inflatable raft sprang a leak.
High runoff from the winter's snowpack and heavy rains during the spring and early summer have left many rivers, streams, and lakes with much higher water levels than is usual at this time of year.
"The risk in many activities such as rafting, tubing and canoeing is likely to be much higher than might otherwise be expected," chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said.
Those who venture out onto the water are urged to wear lifejackets and are warned that alcohol water-related activities do not mix any more than alcohol and driving do.
Never dive into unknown waters or blindly head down a river or stream without being aware of the water conditions further downstream, the Coroners Service advises.
As well, those hosting visitors from out-of-province or out-of-country should ensure that they are informed about the conditions in lakes or rivers they're visiting and warn them about steep drop-offs, rapids, and any other hazards.
And parents should keep young children within arm's length - pre-school aged children can drown in only a few centimetres of water and the drowning is often silent.
