Boat Crashes Into Shore; Operator Ejected

Police say an Okanagan boater is lucky to be alive.

The operator of a 29 foot cabin cruiser was ejected from his vessel into Okanagan Lake Sunday afternoon, just before it crashed into the cliff edge of the shoreline in Peachland.

Police say the 35 year old man was thrown from the boat in rough waters.

“RCMP don’t doubt the boat operator is lucky to be alive,” says RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’ Donaghey. “He was wearing a personal floatation device, which even in the cold waters, assisted him in being able to safely swim to the shore. Once he reached the shores of Okanagan Lake, he was able to call 911 for assistance using his cellular device, which he reportedly kept in a water tight case in his pocket.”

The West Kelowna man had slight hypothermia and was checked out in hospital.

The Maxum boat sustained massive damage to its hull in the crash near Seclusion Bay Road.