Full Breakdown
Missing Paddleboarder Searched for on Okanagan Lake
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On a Tuesday evening, just before 7 p.m., the North Okanagan RCMP were alerted to a marine incident between Fintry Provincial Park and Carr’s Landing on Okanagan Lake. A woman and a man on paddleboards signaled they were in distress. A Kelowna Fire Rescue boat pulled the woman to safety, but the man could not be located. The incident occurred as daylight faded around 7:30 p.m.; gusting winds were reported about 8:30 p.m., though officials have not confirmed whether weather contributed.
Search Operations
Vernon Search and Rescue (VSAR) and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) deployed multiple craft to the lake that night, later joined by an RCMP Air One helicopter and a second RCMP aircraft on the following day. Search teams used boats, a drone, thermal cameras from both water and air, and ground crews to sweep the shoreline. Despite extensive effort into the early morning hours, none of the previously flagged points of interest yielded the missing paddler.
Regional Drowning Context
The Lifesaving Society of B.C. and Yukon reported a marked rise in drowning deaths this year, with 42 fatalities recorded in the region by the end of August. At least five of those deaths occurred on Okanagan Lake, which stretches from Penticton through Kelowna to Vernon.
Current Status and Ongoing Efforts
As of the September 23, 2026 update, RCMP and VSAR confirmed the search remains active. Multi-agency coordination continues, with additional vessels and aerial assets scheduled to patrol the area. No official cause for the incident has been released, and authorities have not indicated whether the search will expand beyond the current focus around Fintry Provincial Park.