UPDATE: Teen in critical condition after drowning incident at BC lake

(UPDATE: June 17 @ 10 am) - Police have provided further details about a drowning incident over the weekend that left a teenager in critical condition.

According to West Shore RCMP, 911 calls came in after witnesses saw a young male swimmer go under water and not resurface at Langford Lake near Victoria.

While emergency crews rushed to the scene, several bystanders pulled the 17-year-old out of the water and onto a floating dock in the lake around 200 feet from the main dock.

They then administered life-saving measures to the teen until first responders could arrive and get out to the floating dock.

When they arrived on scene, a pair of civilian boats quickly ferried the emergency personnel.

Langford Fire Rescue then deployed its boat to assist with the transfer of the youth from the floating dock to a waiting ambulance on shore.

"There were many bystanders who acted quickly to help this young man," said Insp. Stephen Rose, officer in charge at West Shore RCMP.

"There were witnesses who called police right away, others that jumped in the water and applied life-saving measures, and boaters who quickly ferried emergency personnel over to the floating dock."

Rose expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the RCMP for everyone who pitched in to provide aid to the drowning victim in a stressful time.

According to police, the 17-year-old boy remains in hospital in critical condition.

(Original story: June 17 @ 6:35 am) - A teenager nearly lost their life at a Vancouver Island lake this weekend.

The West Shore RCMP says emergency crews were called to Langford Lake, west of Victoria, for reports of a drowning on Saturday afternoon.

The 17-year-old victim was pulled from the water and rushed to hospital where they are receiving ongoing care.

According to BC Emergency Health Services, the teenager is in critical condition.

The RCMP said the result could have been worse if not for the actions of “several bystanders” who pulled the youth out of the lake and administered life-saving measures until first responders arrived.

“We thank these individuals for their help,” noted a statement from the RCMP.

Police promised more details in a follow-up statement early this week.

The situation at Langford Lake on Saturday wasn’t the only drowning incident in British Columbia over the weekend.

On Friday night, a 37-year-old from Dewdney, BC, was killed when they were tossed from a small aluminum boat into the waters of Nicomen Slough near Mission.

The boat was reportedly seen doing donuts on the water before the two passengers were tossed into the water and police suspect alcohol may have played a role.

The passenger made it to shore, police explained, but the driver of the boat, who was not wearing a life jacket, was not immediately found.

Their body was located and recovered from the water late Saturday afternoon.