UPDATE: RCMP confirm 2nd fatal drowning at Cultus Lake in less than 2 weeks
Published 2:01 pm Thursday, August 20, 2026
A man has died after drowning in Cultus Lake on Thursday (Aug. 20), Chilliwack RCMP confirmed.
It was the second fatal drowning in less than two weeks at Entrance Bay.
The call came in around 1:12 p.m. for a report of a “missing person last seen in the waters of Cultus Lake near Entrance Bay” on Aug. 20, Cpl. Carmen Kiener, media relations officer for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment wrote in a press release later that same afternoon.
He was on an inflatable boat prior to going missing.
Initial reports stated the man was out of the water shortly after the call came in for a “possible drowning,” but about 15 minutes later it was confirmed he was still in the water.
Paramedics, RCMP and firefighters were all on scene and a dive team went into the lake to conduct a search. Police were asking the public to avoid the area of Entrance Bay, both on land and on the water, to allow emergency crews to safely conduct the search.
An air ambulance was grounded and ready to launch, but it was only going to head to the site once the person was recovered from the water and their condition was known.
By 2:11 p.m., a call on the emergency scanner stated the man was out of the water and was in care of paramedics.
“CPR was administered but sadly the man did not survive,” Kiener said. “The investigation has now been turned over to the BC Coroners Service.”
She went on to say that Chilliwack RCMP would like to thank the Cultus Lake Fire Department and Chilliwack Search and Rescue for their expertise and assistance.
“This is a tragic incident that no one anticipates happening when they spend a day enjoying the water,” Kiener said. “Our condolences go out to the man’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
This follows a fatal drowning which claimed the life of a 13-year-old on Aug. 8, whose body was recovered on Aug. 10.
Two days later, on Aug. 12, RCMP sent out a press release urging people to be careful on the water.
“The public is reminded that while Cultus Lake is a popular destination for recreation, it presents several unique hazards,” Kiener wrote on Aug. 12. “Steep underwater drop-offs can quickly place swimmers in water over their heads, cold water temperatures can lead to fatigue and reduced swimming ability and strong winds can develop rapidly, pushing swimmers and paddlers away from the shore.”