Drowning in Neskonlith Lake

A Chase resident drowned Monday after a fishing boat capsized on Neskonlith Lake. Police have identified the victim as 77-year-old Walter Oleksyn.

At 3 p.m. on May 12, Chase RCMP Detachment responded to a call of an overturned fishing boat on the lake.

Reports indicated that Oleksyn and a man from Calgary went fishing in a 12-foot aluminum boat. The boat capsized after one of the men stood up in the boat as it approached shore. The incident occurred about 20 feet from shore.

The Calgary man was able to swim back to shore, however his companion was not able to make the swim. Neither men was wearing a life jacket or PFD. RCMP officers were able to recover Oleksyn’s body, but he could not be resuscitated. Alcohol is not considered to be a factor in this incident.