Grave Lake scuba diving tragedy

Elk Valley scuba diving fatality on ice covered lake.

Elk Valley RCMP.

On January 17, 2010 at 1:30 pm, Elk Valley RCMP members attended the scene of a scuba diving accident at Grave Lake near Sparwood, BC.

Two men had been scuba diving under the ice at Grave Lake when one of the men became separated from the other. The missing diver had been under the ice for approximately 1 hour by the time police and Search and Rescue arrived at the scene.

With the assistance of Search and Rescue and the public, a series of sixty-seven holes were drilled in the 17″ thick ice covering with a power ice drill in an attempt to locate the missing diver. An underwater “fish” camera was also used to assist in the rescue attempt.

The missing diver was located some time after and removed from the lake through a hole cut in the ice with a chainsaw. EHS provided first aid and transported the diver to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Deceased is 21 yr old Ryan Turner of Elkford, BC. BC Coroners Service has assumed conduct of the investigation.

Kelowna
January 20, 2010
Elk Valley RCMP File # 2010-204