Two people died in separate drownings near Departure Bay in Nanaimo, B.C. Police and the BC Coroners Service are investigating.
Two Tragic Drownings Shake Nanaimo
A quiet evening near Departure Bay in Nanaimo turned tragic after two people died in separate drowning incidents on Wednesday night.
According to police, the deaths do not appear to be connected. However, both incidents happened within hours of each other in waters around the popular waterfront area.
Search Ends in Sad Discovery
Just after 6 p.m., officers responded to a call to check on the well-being of a woman at Departure Bay Beach. Search crews quickly arrived and began looking through the area.
Sadly, after nearly three hours of searching, crews found the woman’s body in the water.
Police have not released her identity.
Swimmer Pulled From Water Near Boat Ramp
While the first search was still underway, another emergency call came in roughly 90 minutes later. This time, first responders rushed to the Brechin Boat Ramp after reports of a swimmer in distress.
Crews pulled a man from the water, but despite rescue efforts, he died at the scene.
Authorities have not shared details about what led to either drowning.
RCMP and Coroners Service Investigate
Royal Canadian Mounted Police said foul play is not suspected in either case. Even so, investigators continue to work with the BC Coroners Service to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Witnesses Encouraged to Seek Support
Police also noted that several people witnessed the incidents. Because of the emotional impact, officers encouraged witnesses to contact Nanaimo RCMP victim services for support.
The back-to-back tragedies have left many in the community shaken as investigators continue their work.
