Sunday September 7, 2025 | VIEW ROYAL, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
On this Sunday September 7, at around 4 pm, the body of a 19-year-old man who drowned earlier this week was recovered from Upper Thetis Lake.
As first reported by West Shore RCMP on Thursday September 4, several bystanders tried to help the young man (by swimming out to find him) who went under and did not resurface. They were unable to find the swimmer, including a passerby to made several attempts to dive and find the man. Emergency crews attended the scene — including View Royal Fire Department with their boat — but the search had to be suspended at nightfall.
The search team continued their work on Friday and through this weekend. The recovery was executed by divers from the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team and View Royal Fire Department.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them as they grieve this tragic loss,” said West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl Nancy Saggar, in a news release this evening.
Divers worked under challenging conditions due to dense underwater foliage and the search was on going for several days, say RCMP.
“We would like to sincerely thank the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team, the View Royal Fire Department divers, and the CRD Park Rangers for their dedicated efforts and assistance in this challenging recovery operation,” said Saggar.
No further details are being released by the RCMP at this time. But other news reports (in the Times Colonist and the Vancouver Sun) say the man was from California who had taken part in a friendly race to s small island in the lake when he ran out of energy and began struggling.
Thetis Lake Regional Park is a popular swimming area in the west shore region of Greater Victoria.
RCMP File # 2025- 17642
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: VANCOUVER ISLAND | EMERGENCY SERVICES – FIREFIGHTERS | WEST SHORE RCMP