Kamloops firefighter Brian Lannon, 53, went missing May 15, 2021 when diving in Okanagan Lake near the Bennett bridge in Kelowna. He is now presumed drowned.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Family of Brian Lannon
May 18, 2021 - 1:46 PM
The 53-year-old man who went missing Saturday while diving Okanagan Lake, and is now presumed drowned, has been identified as a Kamloops firefighter Brian Lannon.
"Brian and his wife of 20 years, Jennifer Cook, were in Kelowna on Saturday, May 15 for Brian to join his recreational dive partner and two local Kelowna divers to do a recreational dive from City Park near the W. R. Bennett bridge," family friend Jamie Chase said in a statement released this afternoon, May 18.
"They completed a dive in the morning without incident. During their second dive of the day, Brian became separated from his diving partner and the dive team lost contact with him. When it became apparent that he had not resurfaced, his dive team began searching with the assistance of some local boaters and called for emergency response," the statement reads.
Lannon was a captain with Kamloops Fire Rescue, where he had served since 1994, according to a social media statement made by Kamloops Fire Rescue.
"Captain Lannon was known for his dedication and professionalism," the statement reads. "He was a much-loved husband, son, brother, uncle and a cherished friend to many."
As RCMP said yesterday, the search for Lannon has continued since then and has now become a recovery effort.
Dive teams are set up at the base of the W.R. Bennett Bridge today and despite extremely windy conditions they've been seen going in and out of the water.
"Brian’s family is very grateful for the efforts of the Kelowna RCMP and the RCMP’s dive team, Kelowna Fire Rescue and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue," Chase said.
"They also wish to thank Kamloops Fire Rescue for the overwhelming support they have provided."
—This story was updated at 4:17 p.m., May 18, 2021 with a statement from Kamloops Fire Rescue.
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