The Vernon man who drowned while trying to save a child from the strong currents of the Thompson River has been identified as Dr. Michael Mthandazo.
Remembered online by friends and colleagues for his kindness and compassion as a professional, Mthandazo was at a recreational soccer tournament on July 30 when he went swimming with his son.
Read more: Man presumed drowned in Thompson River near MacArthur Island Park, RCMP say
“The current began to accelerate and although he was able to help his son out of the water, he was unable to get out on his own,” said a fundraising campaign organized on his behalf.
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“Unfortunately he was swept away and his body has not yet been found.”
Mthandazo moved to Vernon in January 2021 and took over Dr. Fred Dyke’s practice. Fundraising shows he was the sole earner and had no extended family locally, so his wife Julia and their two young sons would need a lot of support from the community.
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Read more: Man believed to have drowned in Thompson River is from Vernon
In the immediate aftermath, RCMP said police had planes, boats and drones in the area looking for the man and have yet to locate him.
The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team is also assisting in the investigation.
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