Lifesaving group calls for inquest into Manitoba drownings

The Lifesaving Society is calling on the provincial government to launch an inquest intothree drowningsat Manitoba'spublic beaches this summer.

"It will be an opportunity to review all beach safety, not just these two beaches and with recommendations that will likely see improvements in that area," said Carl Shier,the CEO for the Manitoba branch of the Lifesaving Society, on Monday.

• Drowning prevention group wants lifeguards on Manitoba beaches

The call for an inquest follows the death ofa 22-year-old manat Birds Hill Beach on Saturdayand two childrenat Grand Beach in early August.

Beach safety officers have done a fine job during emergencies, but an inquest is needed to explore what happened and why, said Shier.

"We have had previous inquests on beach safety and previous drownings in the early 90s and as late as 2001. Those often bring us judicial findings that move governments to implement the right types of safety," Shier said.

Shier is planning to write a letterto the province's chief medical examinerand government ministers asking for an inquest into thedrownings.

Province set to review beach safety

On Saturday, Jean-Baptiste Ajua, 22, a star track athlete, died while swimming at the Birds Hill Beach with friends.

Ajua, who a friend said could swim "a little bit," went under the water shortly after 3 p.m.A search-and-rescue team found his body in the water around 4:45 p.m. the same afternoon.

Ajua, who immigrated to Canada from Rwanda in 2009, is the third newcomer to Canada to drown in the last three weeks.

On Aug. 1,David Medina, 12, and Jhonalyn Javier, 11, drowned while swimming together atGrand Beach.Both children had recentlyimmigrated to Winnipeg from the Philippines.

Following their death, the Manitoba government announced a reviewof the province's beach safety program. Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox said the entire program will be under review, including whether to replacebeach safety officers with lifeguards.

NDP opposition critic Rob Altemeyer said he applauds the PC government for launching a review of its beach safety program and said an inquest, if merited, could provide more solutions.

"There could be some very good recommendations that would come from accessing that professional expertise," Altemeyer saidMonday, addingthe decision to call an inquest rests with the Chief Medical Examiner.

In the meantime,Altemeyer said he will be monitoring the provincial review "closely" and hehopes it takes a hard look at how to better equip newcomers visiting Manitoba's beaches.

"Certainly given the number of instances where new Canadians and people new to our country have been tragically taken from us by drowning, a more focused approach ... to prepare them for life in Manitoba and when they go to the beach would probably be a very good thing to examine," he said.

There have been no lifeguards are on duty at Manitoba beaches since 1990. Instead, beach safety officerswho have lifeguard certificationprovide water safety tips to parents but do not supervise waters.

In both the Birds Hill and Grand Beach drownings, beach safety officers were present.

A provincial spokeswoman told CBC Monday morning any decision regarding an inquest would be made by the province's chief medical examiner.

In a email Monday, a spokesperson for the medical examiner's office told CBC News"the investigations into these deaths are ongoing" and would not comment further on the possibility of an inquiry.