Waterpark Electrical Injuries
Electrical Issue Suspected After 12 Children Injured at Cultus Lake Waterpark
Key Points
Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Carmen Kiener said the students had “serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” adding the children were in stable condition after the incident.
Coquitlam School District communications assistant director Ken Hoff said the Minnekhada Middle School students’ injuries were “unspecified,” and noted the incident occurred during a Grade 6 and 7 field trip.
Hoff said the RCMP were investigating what led to the injuries and that the school district was “awaiting further information” while that inquiry continued.
BC Hydro said its statement to the public emphasized that “The safety of the public is our top priority,” and that it is “continuing to work co-operatively with the waterpark operator” while supporting the investigation.
Twelve children were rushed to hospital after a suspected electrical shock at Cultus Lake Waterpark in British Columbia on Monday, June 15. Most of the victims were Grade 6 and 7 students from Minnekhada Middle School in Coquitlam, on an end-of-year field trip CKOM. Chilliwack RCMP said injuries were serious but non-life-threatening, and all patients were in stable condition.
Two of the 12 patients required air ambulance transport, with helicopters landing in the waterpark parking lot and a nearby school field Energetic City. Ten ground ambulances and resources from three fire departments also responded to what authorities treated as a mass casualty event.
Children Shocked by Metal Railing Near Waterslide Queue
The incident happened at 11:05 a.m. in the lineup area at the base of the "Zero-60 Raceway" ride. Children made contact with a metal railing and received electrical shocks. Cultus Lake Waterpark CAO Andrew Steunenberg confirmed the cause was electrical. "When they made contact with the railing, that's when the incident occurred," he said, adding, "We've never had an incident ever occur like this before" CJME.
Witness accounts described children being unable to let go of the railing during the shock. RCMP Cpl. Carmen Kiener said investigators found "no indication that the event was caused by a person" and do not believe it was deliberate. First responders found nine patients conscious and breathing on arrival. The total count of injured rose to 12 as the response unfolded Kenora Miner and News.
BC Hydro Points Fault at Waterpark, Not Power Lines
BC Hydro said its early investigation found the electrical problem started on the "customer's side" — meaning inside the park's own wiring and equipment, not the utility's infrastructure. The company said it is "continuing to work co-operatively with the waterpark operator" to support the probe. That statement effectively shifted responsibility for the fault onto the park itself.
Safety analysts suggest a failure in the park's internal grounding or bonding systems could explain what happened. Canada's Electrical Code requires all metal parts near pools and water attractions to be bonded together. This is meant to prevent "stray voltage" — electricity that leaks into structures like railings — from reaching people. Technical Safety BC, the provincial body that regulates amusement rides, sent safety officers to perform a "thorough assessment" CKOM.
Park Closes for 48 Hours During Busiest School Trip Week
Cultus Lake Waterpark announced a mandatory 48-hour closure by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the incident. The closure hits during the peak week for school field trips, affecting thousands of pre-booked visits. Technical Safety BC has the authority to extend the closure until it re-issues a Certificate of Inspection — meaning the park could stay shut far longer Energetic City.
Cultus Lake Waterpark is the largest waterpark in B.C. and has operated since 1984. The site has faced legal scrutiny before: a B.C. Supreme Court justice awarded $488,050 to a man hurt by a falling pipe at the park in 2003. Legal analysts say the serious nature of Monday's injuries — reported to include electrical burns — could push any future civil claims well above that figure.
School District and Parents Await Answers as Probe Continues
Coquitlam School District communications lead Ken Hoff said 11 of the 12 injured were Minnekhada Middle School students. He described their injuries as "unspecified" and said the district was "awaiting further information" while RCMP continued their investigation CJME. The school district is now facing pressure to review how it checks third-party venues for safety before approving field trips.
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West spoke for many parents. "As a dad, my heart goes out to the students and families affected," he said. "There are few things more frightening than receiving a call that your child has been hurt while away from you on a school trip." The incident has also sparked wider calls for province-wide electrical safety audits at amusement parks before the peak summer season CKOM.
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