Twelve people were taken to hospital after an incident at a B.C. waterpark Monday morning, including 10 middle school students
The Coquitlam School District confirmed students from Minnekhada Middle School were at Cultus Lake Waterpark when first responders were called to the popular attraction.
“Ten students are being assessed for unspecified injuries, and all are in stable condition. We have no information on the nature of the injuries or the cause at this time,” a spokesperson said in an email to CTV News.
Local Mounties said they were called to the park around 11:20 a.m., and described the injuries suffered in the incident as serious.
“Police remain on scene as the investigation unfolds,” the Chilliwack RCMP said in an email to CTV News.
B.C. Emergency Health Services said it dispatched multiple ground ambulances and two air ambulances to the scene, and that a total of 12 people were transported to hospital.
“Two were transported to hospital by air ambulance. Ten other patients were transported to hospital by ground ambulance,” spokesperson Brian Twaites said, in a statement.
While no details have been provided about the incident or the injuries, BC Hydro did confirm there was an “electrical issue” that prompted utility crews to be dispatched to the scene.
“After an initial investigation, our crews have identified that the electrical issue originated on the customer’s side of the electrical service, rather than within our infrastructure or equipment,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“The safety of the public is our top priority, and we’re continuing to work cooperatively with the waterpark operator and will support the ongoing investigation in any way we can.”
Cultus Lake Waterpark bills itself as the biggest attraction of its kind in B.C. It was closed to the public Monday but offering bookings for schools, according to its website.
Monday’s incident comes after a heat wave swept across B.C.’s Lower Mainland, breaking numerous temperature records over the weekend.
This is a developing story. More to come.
