A gofundmepage has started and on-line tributes continue to pour in following the tragic death of a Delta man in the Central Okanagan on Father’s Day.
Kelowna RCMP and the BC Coroners Service did not release the man’s name, but through Facebook and social media, he was identified as 46-year-old Kashif Sheikh.
According to his Facebook page, Sheikh was a realtor with Nationwide Realty Corp. in Surrey, was also working at Vancouver International Airport, studied at the UBC Sauder School of Business and was originally from Lahore in Pakistan.
As of Tuesday morning, more than $66,000 has been raised on the gofundmepage to assist the family with funeral costs and ongoing expenses.
Emergency crews in Kelowna rushed to the Mill Creek waterfall after receiving a 911 emergency call of a report of a drowning incident Sunday just before 5:30 p.m.
RCMP officers told Castanet the victim had been at the waterfall with his family when he jumped in the water to help his daughter who had slipped in. She was able to get to shore, but he was not.
Bystanders were able to pull the man from the water and began CPR efforts, which were subsequently taken over by BC Emergency Health Services.
“Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the 46-year-old man could not be resuscitated and passed away,” said Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy. “RCMP Victim Services is providing support to the witnesses and the victim’s family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
The BC Coroners Service is also investigating to determine how, where, when and by what means he came to his death.
-with files from Rob Gibson/Castanet
