Body found at gas station

UPDATE: Dec. 6 - 10:45 a.m.

The Kelowna RCMP has now revealed that a drug overdose killed a man at the Chevron gas station Saturday morning.

On December 5 at 1:10 p.m., Kelowna RCMP and emergency services were called to the Chevron station located at 375 Harvey Avenue, as staff reported a male had locked himself in the public washroom for several hours.

“Access to the washroom was gained and the 46-year-old man was found deceased inside,” says Sgt. Brad Swecera.

“Drug paraphernalia was located in the washroom.”

The BC Coroner's Service was called and attended the scene. 

Family members of the man have been notified and no foul play is suspected. 

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UPDATE: Dec. 5 - 5:52 p.m.

Sgt. Greg Dickie with the Kelowna RCMP says the incident at the Chevron was a medical emergency, and the person did not survive.

Police were on scene, but the body couldn't be moved until the coroner arrived.

Dickie said police must attend every death outside of a hospital.

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ORIGINAL

A body, covered by a yellow tarp, lay among the racks of chips and drinks at the Chevron gas station at Pandosy Street and Harvey Avenue, Saturday afternoon.

There was a sombre, quiet mood in the store as two RCMP officers tended to the body. The coroner arrived at 2:45 p.m.

Sonny, an employee at the Triple O’s restaurant inside the Chevron, said about 1:30 p.m., employees noticed a man had been in the bathroom for a considerable amount of time.

“They knocked on the door and there was no response, so they called the RCMP and a locksmith,” said Sonny. “So they came and opened the lock, and they found that someone was leaned over on the toilet seat there, and the RCMP and the ambulance came at the same time and they tried to revive him, but it doesn’t appear they were able to.”

Sonny said the man appeared to be in his forties.

Another witness tells Castanet paramedics were called once the man was discovered and RCMP arrived approximately 20 minutes later. 

It was a strange scene at the Chevron, as the store remained open to the public throughout the incident. Shoppers purchased gas, as emergency responders tended to the lifeless body in the corner.

“The store’s open and people are just eating burgers, it’s kind of weird,” said one man at the Chevron. “I personally don’t think it’s right that the place is even open."

A woman stood outside the store, visibly upset, and warned people who were entering the store about what was inside.

“I’m surprised they didn’t shut the store down, so I’m just telling people,” said Carlee Savoie. “People should have a choice … just out of respect for one another and respect for the life that was lost here.”

RCMP at the scene would not comment on the incident.