B.C. Coroners Service announces public inquest into the death of Sheilah Sweatman
By Nelson Daily Staff
The B.C. Coroners Service announced Friday that a public inquest will be held into the death of Sheilah Sweatman, a 29-year-old search-and-rescue (SAR) volunteer from Ymir who drowned while on duty July 29.
Presiding coroner Mark Coleman and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to establish the facts surrounding Sweatman’s death.
The jury will then make a series of recommendations to help prevent deaths in similar situations in the future.
The inquest is a result of an incident that happened on the afternoon of June 29.
Creston RCMP were called to the Goat River, just off Highway 21, south of Creston following a report of a vehicle leaving the road and submerged in the river.
Search and rescue team resources required to carry out an examination of the vehicle mustered at the location, with an objective of determining if there were any occupants in the submerged vehicle.
At about 4:15 pm during the course of their search efforts, utilizing swift water line equipment and a swift watercraft, Sweatman went overboard into the river and did not surface.
Efforts to locate and rescue her were not successful.
The death of Sheilah Sweatman marked the first time in B.C. SAR history that one of the province’s volunteers was killed while in service.
On July 23 in Nelson more than a 1,000 SARS, police and fire department members from throughout the province and northern United States attended a memorial show support for Sweatman.
The date and time of the public inquest has not yet been announced.
Comments