Investigators are still trying to piece together why two Richmond men died in a jet-skiing accident in the south arm of the Fraser River.
Businessman Salinder Burmy, 56, and, Ramanjit Bachra 56, lost their lives on the river last Thursday evening.
Richmond Mounties responded to a report of a jet ski adrift with two unconscious bodies floating in the river.
A commercial vessel had spotted them and contacted police, while a Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft was also deployed.
Both of the bodies were recovered and brought to shore near No. 4 Road and the dyke. Despite the efforts of paramedics and firefighters, both men were declared dead at the scene.
Police say both men sustained severe head injuries and both were wearing life jackets.
Lighting conditions and speed, according to police, are being considered as contributing factors to what appears to be a tragic accident. Foul play is not suspected.
A local resident, who only wanted to be identified as Glen, said he was kayaking in the area at the same time as the accident and recalled seeing two jet-skis out on the river.
He said they were on the water near to No. 5 Road and the dyke, where dredging pipes are currently elevated from the surface of the river. Police, however, confirmed that only one jet-ski was pulled out of the river, along with the bodies of the two men.
On Friday afternoon, family and friends came to the site to pay respects to their loved ones. They told television news crews that the men were respected members of the community.
Burmy was president and CEO of Presidio Land Development Corp., according to a LinkedIn profile.
He had worked and/or lived in Richmond as early as 1990 and cited a number of social causes — such as animal welfare and civil rights — that he was interested in.
The RCMP and the BC Coroner’s Service are continuing to investigate the incident.
If anyone has any information or witnessed this incident, contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 or by e-mail at [email protected] To leave a tip anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
