By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

UPDATE: Man pulled from Nanaimo River dies

Jul 4, 2017 | 5:24 PM

NANAIMO — RCMP confirm an elderly man who was in distress while swimming in the the Nanaimo River on Tuesday has died.

Const. Gary O’brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the 73-year-old man died in hospital Tuesday evening after being pulled from the river earlier in the day.

He said RCMP won’t provide any further information as the case has been turned over to the BC Coroners Service.

EARLIER:

An elderly man was pulled unresponsive from the Nanaimo River Tuesday, July 4, after falling into distress while swimming.

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Nanaimo RCMP said the 73-year-old man was swimming in the river upstream of the Duke Point Hwy. without a lifejacket at approximately 12 p.m.

Mounties said friends managed to pull the man from the river and begin CPR. A passerby called 911 and also tried to help.

Still unconscious, the man was taken to hospital.

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to RCMP for an update on his condition, but no update was given. Police said an investigation is ongoing.

island-news@jpbg.ca

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