Woman saves 2 people from drowning at Thetis Lake
Firefighters are urging residents to be careful after two people were saved from drowning at Thetis Lake Park on southern Vancouver Island on Wednesday.
View Royal Fire Rescue Chief Paul Hurst says the fire department was called to the popular lake around 3:40 p.m. for a report of someone drowning.
When firefighters arrived, a woman was bringing two people onto shore.
PULLED OUT 'BY THE HAIR'
Hurst says that beachgoers heard "frantic screams" coming from the water, alerting them that someone was drowning.
"While some called 911, a female jumped on her paddle board and went out approximately 40 metres from the shore," Hurst said in a statement Wednesday.
By the time the woman got to the pair, they were both underwater. One person, a woman, quickly popped out of the lake and grabbed onto the paddleboard, while the good Samaritan reached into the water and grabbed a man, who was still submerged, "by the hair" and onto the paddleboard.
"The female who paddled out was selfless in her actions, didn’t hesitate, and saved two lives today," said Hurst. "If she had not intervened, this would have been a double drowning."
The fire chief says the man and the woman who were rescued did not know how to swim, and were floating on the lake on a recreational floatie when it flipped. Neither were wearing life jackets at the time.
Hurst says both victims are grateful for the paddleboarder's actions.
"This is the first water-related incident this year at Thetis, and I am hopeful it will be the last," said Hurst.
"That said, this is a reminder to those who can’t swim, or are recreating near water, wear a PFD (life jacket) or don’t go in the water if you can't swim."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.