Man Who Drowned After Tubing Accident Given CPR

A 42-year-old Vancouver Island man has died despite receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after a tubing accident on a fast-flowing river. Authorities believe alcohol use and limited swimming ability may have contributed to the fatal incident.

Drowning Incident on Puntledge River

The incident occurred on the Puntledge River near Courtenay on Wednesday evening. The man was tubing with friends when he was thrown from his inner tube into the river at approximately 6 p.m. He was later found face-down on a small island downstream.

Friends immediately attempted life-saving measures and began performing CPR while officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided instructions over a loudspeaker from the riverbank. Due to swift and dangerous water conditions, officers were unable to enter the river themselves.

Const. Kelly Godard said it was difficult to prevent bystanders from entering the water to help. “We are not set up for swift water rescue,” she explained.

An off-duty volunteer firefighter eventually entered the river to assist with CPR until the RCMP’s Swift Water Rescue Team arrived. Despite continued resuscitation efforts, the man could not be revived and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Investigation and Safety Warnings

The victim’s name has not been released. Police stated that he was new to the Comox Valley area and had earlier told friends that he was not a strong swimmer.