Penticton

The search continued Monday for a girl who went missing and is presumed drowned in Skaha Lake in Penticton.

Photo: Contributed - Derek Hurst

Search and Rescue boats are back on the water looking for a 12-year-old girl missing and presumed drowned

The 12-year-old girl, reportedly from Kamloops, was swimming with relatives west of the Okanagan River Channel in the lake when she disappeared underwater at around 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

RCMP, Penticton Fire Department and search and rescue boats initially responded to the scene. A RCMP dive team also looked for the girl in the water without success.

The girl’s family was back on the beach Monday, hoping for signs of her. The Penticton Indian Band provided assistance to them as did the RCMP over the course of the day.

The girl has not been identified.

Both the RCMP and Penticton Fire Department are  warning  people  not to swim in the area where the girl went missing.

Penticton Fire Chief  Wayne Williams said a man from Alberta drowned  in the same area last summer trying to rescue his daughter, who was floating on an inflatable raft. 

More recently an off duty firefighter rescued someone who was swimming  at the location.

“There are warnings posted there because there is a drop off and also the outflow of the river channel which can push people out,” said Williams.

“People should always wear flotation devices and if they are not a good swimmer not chance it for sure.”