Multiple water emergencies in Sea to Sky as paddleboarders still missing
RCMP responds to third incident in a week; search continues for two paddleboarders at Murrin Park after Saturday incident.
The Sea to Sky RCMP has responded to three water emergencies since May 27, highlighting serious safety risks in the corridor's lakes and rivers.
The most critical: two paddleboarders fell into Browning Lake at Murrin Provincial Park on Saturday and did not resurface. The search continues, and the provincial park remains closed. Police have not identified the missing paddleboarders or provided recovery updates.
On May 27, just after noon, Whistler RCMP received a report of a paddleboard and paddle floating in Alta Lake. Later that afternoon, a paddleboarder who launched from Lakeside Park did not return. Despite coordinated searches involving multiple agencies, the individual remains missing and outstanding.
On May 30, a man's kayak overturned in the Squamish River, where the notoriously fast current carried him downstream. He clung to a log until a Squamish RCMP officer entered the water wearing a life jacket to pull him to shore. Both the officer and the rescued man were hospitalized and released.
Corporal Katrina Boehmer, media relations officer with Sea to Sky RCMP, stressed the unpredictability of the region's water conditions. "Strong currents, cold water, changing weather conditions and recreating alone are only a few things that can quickly turn a day of enjoyment into an emergency." The RCMP strongly recommends wearing a personal flotation device at all times while using paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, or kiteboards—vessels that can quickly become unreachable if someone falls in unexpectedly. Never recreate alone; let someone know when you expect to return.