Image: Submitted / A BC air ambulance responded Sunday, July 2 to the Chehalis River north of Harrison Mills after a man drowned, according to Chilliwack resident Erik Devisser, who witnessed much of the incident unfold and contacted emergency dispatch. Despite the valiant efforts of people in the area who rushed to administer CPR, and the work of paramedics, the man could not be revived.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Man dies in Chehalis River

Man dies in Chehalis River, north of Harrison Mills, over Canada Day long weekend: witness

Jul 4, 2023 | 7:33 AM

**UPDATE at 12 p.m. Tuesday, July 4: Agassiz RCMP Sgt. Mike Sargent has released the following statement: “On July 2, 2023 at 5:20 p.m., Agassiz RCMP and BC Ambulance Service responded to an unconscious man that had been pulled up onto a sandbar in the middle of the Chehalis River. Despite the best efforts of bystanders and paramedics the man was unable to be resuscitated and was pronounced deceased on scene. The man appeared to have been trying to cross the river but got caught up in the current. Kent-Harrison Search and Rescue assisted with getting all involved safely to shore. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the individual who was involved in this tragic incident.”**

Original story below:

HARRISON MILLS — A man has died after he tried to cross the Chehalis River, north of Harrison Mills, but got caught up in the current, over the Canada Day long weekend.

The tragedy happened sometime just after 5 p.m. Sunday, July 2, as swimmers gathered for a recreational dip in the Chehalis River on a day when temperatures were hovering between 25 and 27 degrees in the afternoon. The incident occurred just south, or down river, of the Chehalis River bridge.

The man appeared to have been trying to cross the river but was caught up in the current, Agassiz RCMP Sgt. Mike Sargent said in a statement.

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Chilliwack resident Erik Devisser says he was there with his family visiting friends at nearby Chehalis River Campground and witnessed much of the incident unfold and contacted 9-1-1.

“I was the first person on scene with a phone; it was a couple hundred metres from the campsite and nobody has their phones in the river,” Devisser said. “My wife and friends were swimming in the same pool moments before. They left and were returning to our side when the screams started.”

Image: Google Maps / The red pin indicates the vicinity in which the drowning occurred on Sunday, July 2.

He said his wife and many others in the immediate area rushed to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the man, who appeared to be in his mid-30s or 40s, but they were not successful in reviving him.

“My wife and friend stayed with the kids while they tried to revive [him],” Devisser said. “He drowned. Many people came to help and constantly did CPR until paramedics arrived; they had to cross the waist-deep river. I was on the phone with 9-1-1 [dispatchers] until paramedics came. They were instructing us on the timing of CPR and keeping his head down, etc.”

Two medics arrived initially, followed by two more medics, an RCMP officer, and later an air ambulance from B.C. EHS, Devisser said.

Image: Submitted

Prior to the air ambulance’s arrival, medics asked people to partly clear the shoreline area where the incident occurred for a safe helicopter landing.

Video from a social media account shows a helicopter landing in the shallow shoreline as emergency air medics converged on the banks of the Chehalis River.

Kent Harrison Search and Rescue personnel responded to the incident as well by assisting with getting all involved safely to shore.