A 16 year old male is believed to have drowned while swimming with two friends at Seeley Lake Provincial Park on Sunday night.
On June 16th, 2013 at approximately 5:12 pm, New Hazelton RCMP were called to Seeley Lake Provincial Park located 8 Km west of New Hazelton.
RCMP received a report of two young males yelling for help on an island approximately 100 feet from shore.
The youth, aged 16 and 17 told police that they all swam across the lake towards the island but halfway across, their friend panicked and went under the water.
RCMP members and two BC Conservation Officers attended immediately in their boats and began to search for the youth. Search and Rescue and Emergency Health Services were also deployed and as they were staging the command post, the youth’s body was located by RCMP members of the initial search team.
The males, who were retrieved from the island, received medical attention for shock and non life threatening injuries.
All three youth were from the New Hazelton area. Smithers Community Victim services have been assisting all the families involved in this tragic incident.
The BC Coroner Service has now taken jurisdiction of this tragic incident.