Christina Lake drowning victim was former fire chief

Update (August 14). . . A man who drowned after falling out of a canoe was a former fire chief.

Richard Thomas, 78, was a Christina Lake resident and a former fire chief of the small community near the Canada/U.S. border. Thomas was clearing weeds from a private lake when he fell out of a canoe. He was not wearing a life jacket.

by Dave Preston

A Christina Lake senior lost his life Thursday after falling out of a canoe.

RCMP is reporting is that the 78-year-old man was on Moody Lake cutting weeds out of the lake when the tragedy occurred at about 9:30 a.m.

“The subject fell out of his canoe and attempted to climb back but then disappeared under the water,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. “He was not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device.”

The B.C. Ambulance Service and Christina Lake Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. The man’s body was located later about 50 feet from shore and in about eight to 12 feet of water.

The B.C. Coroner Service has taken over as the lead agency in this investigation.

Thursday’s victim is the third Christina Lake resident to drown in less than two weeks.

On July 28, Ronald and Jean Legare lost their lives when floating on the Kettle River in Grand Forks. The Legares were 74 and 71 years of age. They were swept over nearby waterfalls. A Scottish man also drowned in the incident.