Community mourns West Kelowna teen who drowned

WEST KELOWNA – A makeshift memorial has been erected near where a West Kelowna teen drowned this weekend.

Flowers, photos, candles, a skate deck and messages of love have been set up at the ferry warf structure in Gellatly Bay where the teen jumped into the water around 1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. 

When he didn't emerge emergency responders found the boy and pulled him from the water, tried CPR and rushed him to hospital. 

“Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the 15-year-old boy could not be resuscitated and passed away in hospital,” O’Donaghey said, in a press release. “RCMP Victim Services are providing support to the witnesses and the victim’s family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the boy’s loved ones during this difficult time.”

Photographer: Kathy Michaels


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Kathy Michaels

Kathy Michaels has been an Okanagan-based journalist for more than a decade, working for community papers along the valley and beyond.
She’s won provincial and national awards in business, news and feature writing and says that her love for telling a good story rivals only her fondness for turning a good phrase.
If you have a story that deserves to be told in a thoughtful and compassionate manner, don’t hesitate to reach out.
To reach Kathy call 250-718-0428 or email kmichaels@infonews.ca.