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Preparedness is the key

Re: Harrison Lake Claims more Lives August 13, letter writer shares their thoughts on the incident

After our 'surreal experience' on Harrison Lake last Tuesday, Aug 11 where one swimmer (as of today's date) is still missing and the other simmer we helped safely to our boat.

Unfortunately for these boaters / swimmers, there were no life jackets on board. They are called 'life jackets' for a reason. This is not a killer lake. Lives will continue to be taken when proper preparedness is not done. You can put up signs every five feet, but if people are not responsible for their actions and do not adhere to proper boating safety or in general, safety in the water, we will see more catastrophes like we've seen so far this summer. And this goes for any lake. (Most, not all, accidents have been out on the water.)

Why not have someone of authority be on the dock, checking boaters as they're launching their boat for licenses, lifejackets, ropes, horn and equipment that should be on boats for boating safety?

You don't have them, then there is no access to our lake. Or like Osoyoos, Cultus and I'm sure other lakes, have a spotter out on the lake checking on boaters. If it saves only one life, it would be worth it. The cost I'm sure would be significantly lower than the cost each time for Search and Rescue and Medi-Vac helicopter, which is in the thousands. These are just our thoughts as we keep going over and over what took place that afternoon.

Our sincere condolences go out to the missing swimmer's family.

Trevor and Darlene Delaney

Agassiz