Worker Lake Death Investigated

The operator of a commercial tug boat is believed to be the victim of a workplace accident in Okanagan Lake.

RCMP say they got 911 calls from employees at Tolko’s mill in Kelowna around 9:21 pm Monday  about a tug boat that sank near Manhattan Point in Okanagan Lake.

A search was launched for the boat operator who was unaccounted for, and it was later confirmed that person was deceased and still inside the vessel.

RCMP, the Coroner’s Service and WorkSafe BC are all investigating.

“The RCMP Southeast District Underwater Recovery Team is expected to attend this scene this morning to recover the body of the individual who is believed to be the vessel operator,” says RCMP Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The investigation is in its early stages, as the scene remains secured by the RCMP at this time.”

The victim’s name has not yet been released.

A union official tells Global Okanagan, the man who died had worked at the mill for at least 25 years.