Alberta woman and B.C. man die in separate weekend drownings

AnAlberta woman and British Columbia man both died in two separate drowning incidents in different parts of B.C. over the weekend, RCMP say.

Both deaths happened on Sunday eveningaround 6 p.m. PT.

Mounties in the Columbia Valley were called out toKootenay National Park after a Calgary woman slipped over the edge ofMarble Canyon and into swift river current. The woman, 34,had been posing for a photo with her partner when she suddenly lost her footing. RCMP said shewas sweptaway.

According to the statement, the woman'sfriend jumped in the water to tryto help her, butwas also swept down the river.

The woman's body was pulled from the water about one kilometre downstream, where she was pronounced dead.

The 29-year-old Calgary man who tried to help was eventually pulled from the canyon ina high-angle rope rescue.

He wasairlifted to a Calgary hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Kelowna man presumed drowned

Also on Sunday, RCMP officers were called to help search for a 29-year-old Kelowna man who had not resurfaced while swimming near Tug Boat Beach just after 6p.m. PT.

West Kelowna RCMP, Kelowna Fire and Rescue and members of the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) could not findthe manand he is presumed to have drowned, said a statement Monday.

Recovery teamsreturned to the area early Monday to begin searching for his body off both Kelowna and West Kelowna shores.

"At this time, we unable to estimate how long this operation will be ongoing,"said RCMP Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy.

They are asking the publicto give space to dive teams as theydo their work.

"For the safety of our divers and the entire search team, we request that boaters remain away from the area while we complete our search," saidNoseworthy.

The B.C. Coroners Service has also been notified of both drowning incidents.