To kick off National Drowning Prevention Week, the BC Coroners service has released statistics on drowning deaths in British Columbia over the past decade.
There were 98 accidental drowning deaths in 2024, but the full dataset looks at the numbers between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, an 11-year stretch.
"It is our hope that by providing regular information and details about how these deaths occur, we can help British Columbians make safer choices while enjoying water-related activities,” said Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, BC’s chief coroner.
.jpg)
As has been the case over recent years, Okanagan Lake remains the deadliest lake in BC and there’s a significant gap between the top two spots on the list.
According to the BC Coroners Service, there have been 28 drowning deaths in Okanagan Lake over the past 11 years, with the next highest being Harrison Lake with 12.
Kalamalka, Kootenay and Osoyoos lakes are all next with six drowning deaths since the start of 2014, while Alouette, Cultus and Mara lakes have five apiece. No other lake has more than five.
Although Okanagan Lake is by far the deadliest BC lake when it comes to drowning, no body of water has seen more of those types of deaths than the Fraser River.
The province’s largest river has seen 53 drowning deaths between 2014-24, nearly five times more than the 11 experienced in the Thompson River.
Other rivers on the list with between five and eight deaths are the Similkameen, Columbia, Cowichan, Kootenay and Slocan, while seven are also attributed to Unnamed Creek.
.jpg)
The 98 drowning deaths in 2024 marked the first time the number has been in the double digits since 2021.
Just over three quarters of decedents were male and the numbers understandably spiked in the summer, with double digit deaths recorded in June, July, August, September and October.
Nine of the drownings involved youths under 19 years of age and the most affected age demographic was those between 50 and 59.
All other 10-year age windows, along with the 70+ category, saw between 11 and 15 deaths.
The BC Coroners Service also reported that alcohol and/or drugs were a “contributing factor” in 40% of drowning deaths over the past decade, with that number rising to 50% among adult drownings.
Brian Twaites, paramedic public information officer with BC Emergency Health Services, urged people to stay sober and safe when on or in the water.
"Anyone can drown, even people who know how to swim,” he said. “Remember, alcohol and other recreational substances don't mix with any water activities and intoxication puts you at a significant risk of drowning.”
You can view the full BC Coroners Service report here.
