The timely delivery of life-saving measures is essential especially when emergencies occur. It is better to deliver life-saving measures than doing nothing at all. A 16-year old boy passed away after he was swept away by a strong current and pulled underwater while swimming at Lynn Canyon Twin Falls.
The North Vancouver RCMP, B.C. Ambulance Service and the local firefighters were called to Lynn Canyon where the boy, an American visiting from Pennsylvania was swimming.
Upon disappearing underwater, the family cried for help and several bystanders assisted in pulling the boy from the water and performed CPR. The boy was transported to Lions Gate Hospital but did not survive.
According to Const. Brett Cunningham, it was a devastating scenario. They are working with the park officials and the District of North Vancouver to prevent incidents from occurring.
Safety concerns
The high-risk behavior continues despite the installation of fencing and cautionary signs in the area. The area is well-known for swimming, but the swift waters have claimed several lives over the years.
Between 1985 up to 2016, there have been 8 reported deaths in and around the area of Twin Falls Bridge which is a popular site for thrill-seekers eager to cliff jump. Between 2011 up to 2015, there were 16 reported injuries in the same area. The fence with the sign on it reads “WARNING – EXTREME DANGER – Do not go beyond this fence, the area is extremely hazardous and has claimed several lives”.
Despite the delivery of CPR, it was not a positive outcome for the child involving in the watery ordeal. Nevertheless, learning life-saving skills will come in handy when an unexpected emergency occurs.
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For more information, check out these sources:
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/default.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiopulmonary_resuscitation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600