5 B.C. men dead in weekend drownings

Five people died as a result of drowning accidents over the weekend, officials say, bringing the number of people who have died in B.C. waters this year to 46, up from 30 the same time last year.

The victims, all men, range in age from a 19-year-old whose raft overturned to a 70-year-old man snorkeling in the Okanagan.

The run of hot weather across British Columbia may be partly to blame for a spike in drownings in the province this summer, according to officials from the Lifesaving Society of B.C. and Yukon.

• Drowning deaths up in B.C., officials warn

This weekend's victims, whose names have not been released, include:

• A 19-year-old man who drowned in the Similkameen River in the south Okanagan after falling from his raft and being swept away by strong currents
• A 21-year-old international student who died after suddenly finding himself over his head while swimming in Thetis Lake, northwest of Victoria
• A 24-year-old man who was pulled out of Sasamat Lake in Port Moody on Sunday afternoon. The victim was airlifted to hospital, but passed away on Sunday night, police said on Monday
• A 45-year-old Keremeos man who drowned when his boat capsized at Heart Lake, north of Hedley, also on Saturday, according to Princeton RCMP
• A 70-year-old man from Peachland who drowned while snorkelling in Okanagan Lake on Saturday

The B.C. Coroners Service and police are investigating the deaths.

Officials from the Lifesaving Society say most drowning victims are young men trying risky activities like cliff jumping, or the victims simply don't expect to end up in deep water.