After being the lead police officer who investigates drownings on Osoyoos Lake, Sgt. Jason Bayda has an idea he wants to bring to the popular waterway that could prevent future tragedies.
Bayda wants to install boat safety stations at launches and ramps around the lake that will include lifejackets that can be borrowed, information about shallow spots on the lake and speed limits including under the bridge as well as other safety tips.
“Over the years, we’ve had drownings, boat collisions and accidents. Having to deal with it starts to weigh on you,” said Bayda.
Out for a walk on the Kelowna waterfront pre-COVID, he saw a lifejacket borrowing station.
These stations are set up at many lakes around North America where people can borrow lifejackets for the day. Nothing like this exists in Osoyoos, he said.
Recently, Bayda made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos about Sam, a 34-year-old man who died on Osoyoos Lake after his jet ski hit a big wave in 2017. Sam had given his lifejacket to his passenger who survived the accident.
“I’ve gotten quite close to Sam’s family and they support what I want to do here.”
Bayda said it took 50 days to find Sam’s body after searching day-in-and-day-out with sonar and dogs trained in scent detecting for cadavers.
With the help of Gene and Sandy Ralston, his body was recovered. But the time searching was incredibly difficult for everyone.
A couple of weeks after that tragedy, a girl drowned in Osoyoos Lake. Since that terrible summer, more drowning and boating incidents have taken place and more lives lost.
READ MORE: Body of man who drowned saving dog in Osoyoos Lake found
“Osoyoos is an especially busy lake and getting busier all the time,” said Bayda who has been working in the Osoyoos detachment for 14 years. He loves being part of the Osoyoos community but wants to play a role in preventing future lake tragedies.
“What I see is parents are really good about putting life jackets on their kids but there is this mindset with adults because they can swim they don’t need to wear one. It’s human nature to think that ‘it can’t happen to me’.”
But he’s been on the front line of seeing what not wearing a life jacket can do.
“Falling off a boat or a jet ski you can get the wind knocked out of you, or there is a medical emergency or boat collisions with injuries. A lifejacket can save a life in those situations,” he said. “People on paddleboards should be wearing them too.”
With so many tourists renting boats on the lake, it’s important to make boating safety stations for them to see too.
“I want a QR code that people can use to find out what safety equipment is required on the boat.”
The Rotary Club was very receptive to the plan so now Bayda’s next step is to get permission from the Town and Osoyoos Indian Band where the boat launches are located like at Nk’Mip campground.
If anyone would like to contribute materials or funds to the project, contact the Rotary.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
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