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Boaters weren't drunk

A woman who was on board the boat when a man went missing in Okanagan Lake says people are jumping to conclusions.

She says the group was not drinking excessively on the boat, Saturday, when a 23-year-old friend slipped into the water and is presumed drowned.

"We had just gotten on the water," said the woman, who did not give her name. "We were just heading to the other side of the bridge, and the water was choppy.

"No one was swimming, but we did stop for someone to take a pee.

"No one saw him get in the water."

The group carried on before noticing their friend was no longer on board. She said the group hadn't been in the boat long enough for anyone to have more than a single drink.

"We were right by shore," she said. "For sure he would have been able to swim to the beach."

She fears the man may have hit his head if he dove in.

"People are saying nasty things on social media," she said. "I just wanted people to know that no one was being irresponsible."

RCMP divers are expected to continue the search this week.



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