Chief Cory Medhurst reports that BC Ambulance Services and local first responders were called to a beach in the Gray Creek area at 5 pm on the evening of June 27th to attend to a reported near drowning.
A local man in his early forties had ventured out into the water, reportedly to meet friends in a boat, and had slipped under the shelf in the water and not resurfaced. He was reportedly under the water for approximately one full minute before anyone got to him. Another local man (who Medhurst hails as a hero in this incident) went into the water and pulled out the unconscious man who was then attended to with CPR. He was resuscitated to pulse and breath and BC Ambulance got to the scene shortly thereafter.
Because of the seriousness of the incident, BCAS called in a helicopter with ALS paramedics who met the crew at the decommissioned airstrip in Crawford Bay.
Medhurst also issued a warning about cautiousness in driving and awareness of emergency vehicles. In a separate incident, but at the same time, a truck and camper attempting to enter the campground where the accident occurred sideswiped the ambulance causing some damage and a significant delay in patient care.
Summer is here… stay safe.
RETRACTION: Some comments printed in an earlier version of this article regarding the patient’s condition were attributed to the responding paramedics on scene. In fact, the paramedics made no such comments and those comments were removed upon learning they were incorrect. We apologize to everyone involved for any inconvenience.
One Response
Great report, but new terminology around drowning has been established in 2000. Near, dry, wet, secondary descriptors are no longer recommended for use. The new terminology has been slow to gain traction, and many professionals are still using the old terms. Drowning, like strokes or heart attacks are a process, the thing that causes a patient to become unresponsive or have other issues (we don’t say someone had a near heart attack or stroke). If someone drowns it does not mean they die. If CPR was performed the patient did not nearly drown, they did and their heart stopped because of it. There are 3 outcomes for drowning, Fatal, or non-fatal (which is further broken down into non-fatal with or without morbidity). So your above story, according to new recommendations should read non-fatal drowning in Grey Creek. I can provide references if required.
Letting people know that there are hazards associated around the water is important.