One person was discovered dead by first responders who were deployed to Loon Lake earlier this week for a water rescue.
Emergency teams raced to the rural lake in Malcolm Knapp’s UBC Research Forest just after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., Ridge Meadows RCMP were contacted by Maple Ridge Fire & Rescue Services for a report of a possible drowning at Loon Lake, a rural lake in northeast Maple Ridge.
Firefighters in the east end of Maple Ridge were all dispatched, along with search and rescue members, ground and air ambulance teams, Ridge Meadows RCMP,and BC RCMP’s underwater team, to assist with rescue.
When officers arrived on scene, they spoke with a number of individuals who told them an adult male had entered the water and not resurfaced.
At about 5 p.m. a ground ambulance left the scene along with the air ambulance, as three Ridge Meadows Search & Rescue vehicles – one towing a boat – were seen heading towards the lake.
At least a dozen search and rescue members took part in the subsequent search and recovery, said Ridge Meadows team leader Brent Boulet.
They used rafts and snorkeling gear to search the immediate area from the surface, while getting an underwater camera set up. Once the camera was ready, they did a grid search around the dock area, where they located the deceased man at around 7:15 p.m.
RCMP noted their victim services unit has been engaged, and their investigative support team was advised.
“The incident is not believed to be suspicious,” said RCMP.
“Our sympathies go out to the family, and we respect their wish for privacy at this time,” said police, adding there would be no further comment.
