It was the clothes on the rocks and a straw hat floating on the water that alerted a group of young people to a body submerged in the water at the Sooke Potholes.
At about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16 Sooke Fire and Rescue Services responded to an RCMP call while they were dealing with a motor vehicle incident on Sooke River Road.
A 34-year-old Sooke woman was found drowned, submerged in six to eight feet of water.
"She was hard to see," said Fire Chief Steve Sorensen.
He said if the youth hadn't spotted her clothing in the water she might not have been found. Her belongings were found nearby.
He said she was found at "beer bottle," a pool with no current.
As to injuries, Sorensen said there was nothing obvious and an autopsy would be performed.
Staff Sergeant Steve Wright had stated that it is believed she fell in and was alone at the time.
The incident was a good combined effort, said Sorensen. Six fire and rescue personnel as well as RCMP and ambulance attended the scene. CRD staff were instrumental in keeping people away from the scene.
Police did not release the name of the deceased but a comment on Disgus on Sooke News Mirror's website, by her daughter, identified the woman as Leanna Simpson.
The Sooke Potholes are a popular swimming spot for people from across Vancouver Island. Each year there are numerous accidents and incidents where people have to be rescued, but rarely are there any deaths by drowning.