Canada Day 150 carries special meaning for pair of Nelsonites
By Nelson Daily Staff
Canada Day 2017 going to carry more of a special meaning to a pair of Nelson friends than it just being Canada’s 150th birthday celebration.
That was a day when quick thinking by a friend turned what could have been a catastrophe into a blessing on Kootenay Lake.
“We want people to be careful and make sure if you are swimming to have other people close by or wear a lifejacket,” said former Nelsonite David Lundie after he was involved in a near-death experience near Troupe Junction Saturday.
“Because even if you are a strong swimming, after a while everyone gets tired and something unexpected can happen.”
Lundie said life-saving experience started on Canada Day around 3 p.m. on Kootenay Lake.
A few mates were getting together for a boat cruise around Lakeside Park when it was decided to head north on Kootenay Lake to a beach four miles from Nelson known as Troupe.
After arriving a short time later, the boating party realized spring runoff on Kootenay Lake had left very little beach for anyone wanting to frolic on the sand.
Instead of beach time, the boat operator shut off the motor to allow for a little diving into Kootenay Lake to cool off from the 30-plus Celsius temperatures.
However, when the operator attempted to re-start the motor, the battery had died, forcing the crew to call for help from a parent also on the lake.
“At this point we had around 30 minutes before we would be picked up, so we decided to all go for a swim to a lighthouse that was about 100 meters away from the boat while the driver stayed in the boat and waited,” the 21-year-old Lundie explained.
Lundie said the swim tired everyone out, so they all decided to hang out at the ladder.
However, one of Lundie’s buddies (who we’ll call Joe) decided to swim back to the boat, that was now floated near the middle of Kootenay Lake.
“I watched as Joe seemed to be slowing down during the swim and looked to be getting more tired swimming,” Lundie said.
“By this time, Joe started swimming on his back so he could keep his head in the air.”
Lundie said there was a slight current in the lake, and with Joe now swimming on his back, he became disoriented, instead of going toward the boat Joe was swimming in the opposite direction.
“By the time Joe realized this, the current had gotten a bit stronger and he had become very tired,” Lundie said.
“We yelled at him to ask if he was okay, but Joe started to look frightened and only a few minutes later he started to scream, “Help Me”.
Lundie, well versed in lifesaving, having taken all his Red Cross levels and achieving his Life Guard certification, knew something had to be done. So, he jumped into the water and started swimming towards Joe.
“I could hear Joe yelling on my swim and noticed his head started to bob up and down under the water,” Lundie explained.
“I swam right up to him and out of instinct Joe grabbed onto me and tried to use me to keep himself above water . . .. That’s when I knew I had to do something as we both could perish.”
So Lundie dove under Joe, knowing he would not follow. And when Lundie broke through the surface of Kootenay Lake he told Joe to kick hard as he could and grabbed onto his wrist.
“I started to drag him towards shore but was becoming very tired myself and started to feel the current as well,” he said.
“I was very scared during this, but knew I had to just keep going.”
“I suddenly could hear my friends on the light house yelling at another boater for help,” Lundie added. “The boater was a friend’s mom. She came over to us and we were able to pull Joe up onto the boat.”
Lundie said everyone knew if she hadn’t been there at that time Joe may not be here today.
“Joe kept telling me he owed his life to me and he was terrified during it all,” Lundie said.
Lundie, born and raised in Nelson, graduated from L.V. Rogers in 2014. So the now apprentice electrician in Calgary knows how beautiful Kootenay Lake can be in the summer.
However, out in the middle of the lake, currents can surprise even the strongest of swimmers.
Which is why he hopes by telling his story, people will understand the importance of water safety.
“It can happen so quickly,” says Dale Miller, Executive Director for the Lifesaving Society. “One minute you’re having the time of your life, the next you’re struggling for your life.”
Lundie and his friend couldn’t agree more.
“What we have beautiful lake flowing by Nelson and there is a current even though it may not look like it,” he said. “We want everyone to be safe and take precautions when on the lake.”
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