Local CO Jason Hawkes saves family in distress on Kootenay Lake
By Nelson Daily Staff
By Zaynab Mohommad, The Nelson Daily
A friend in need is surely a friend in deed.
A vacationing family is thankful for the quick actions of local Conservation Officer Jason Hawkes after their boat took on water across from the Kaslo Municipal Campground on the afternoon of (Tuesday) June 30th.
“You have to be very careful on this lake,” Hawkes told The Nelson Daily when asked about that eventful day.
“The wind can picked up very quickly and (in this case) the wave action was pushing water into the boat . . . submerging their boat.”
The family was out on Kootenay Lake when the wind quickly picked up and, boat they were in, began to take on water.
The mother, who had a cell phone, contacted the grandmother on shore who then called Kaslo RCMP, which sent out the distress call.
Hawkes heard the call, and realizing conditions were quite rough and the fire department had been called as well and would be on their way, decided to head to the location of the distressed boat as he was still on the lake.
“I tried to notify other boaters in that area on the marine radio, but got no response,” Hawkes told The Nelson Daily.
“Low and behold when I got closer I saw some arms waving.”
Hawkes said when he arrived the gunwale of the boat was at the water line and the family of four was sitting in the boat.
“They all were wearing their lifejackets, which I was glad to see because that’s not always the case on the lakes in this area,” said Hawkes, who has been a Conservation Officer for the past 10 years.
“I was glad I was there and that they were still together and everyone was safe and sound.”
One by one Hawkes loaded the family into his boat before bringing them back to shore, where they were camping.
After everyone was safe, Hawkes radioed that the family of four had been rescued from Kootenay Lake.
“I could hear, in the background, there was some excitement,” he said.
“The grandma had been sitting on pins and needles waiting at the police detachment. Then she heard the response.”
Many consider Hawkes to be a hero for saving the family from what could have been a very tragic outcome.
However, as a public servant, Hawkes is grateful to have been in the right place at the right time.
“I was just glad that everyone was okay and accounted for when I arrived because the windy conditions,” Hawkes explained.
“I wasn’t sure if they’d be in the water swimming, that would not be ideal.”
“I was glad it was a rescue and not a recovery,” he added.
“As there have been too many recoveries in Kootenay Lake and surrounding lakes, in and around BC.”
