Group of people on floaties rescued after being blown away from shore of BC lake

Agassiz RCMP members doing training on Harrison Lake were in the right place at the right time earlier this week.

They were on the lake Wednesday, July 3, when they noticed a group of people on flotation devices who had been blown away from the shore by strong winds.

The group tried their luck swimming back to shore, but were having no success against the forces of Mother Nature.

Fortunately, the police officers were there and they were able to jump into action.

They utilized a throw line to assist the exhausted group with a tow back to shore.

While this incident had a positive ending, the RCMP says water recreation can come with its fair share of risks.

“Pool floats, inflatable rafts and children’s water wings are not safety devices,” noted an RCMP release. “While they reduce the effort required for swimming, they do not eliminate the risk.”

With a heat wave arriving in BC over the coming days, the RCMP is urging swimmers and anyone cooling off with lake activities to heed the following safety tips:

• Wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD): This is especially important for non-swimmers and children.
• Understand the differences between natural water and pools: Being water competent in natural water requires additional knowledge and skills.
• Check the weather: Changes in temperature and wind can quickly increase swimming difficulty.
• Know your environment: Fast-moving currents, waves and rapids can be dangerous even in shallow water. Drop-offs, dams, underwater obstacles, rocks and debris can all present unexpected hazards.
• Be aware of cold-water risks.
• Avoid alcohol while participating in water activities.