2 dead, 2 critical in apparent overdose on Vancouver Island: RCMP

Two women are dead, and two men remain in critical condition following what police say was an apparent drug overdose at a beach access point west of Victoria on Vancouver Island.

In a statement Friday, West Shore RCMP said they responded to reports of four individuals in "medicaldistress" in aparking areaat the Taylor Road beach access in Metchosin at approximately 6:25 a.m.

Police said they discovered a vehicle in the parking lotwith all its doors open. Nearby, four individuals were found lying on the ground.

Emergency crewsfromB.C. Emergency Health Services and the Metchosin Fire Department conductedlife-saving measures, according to the Mounties, but two women were pronounced dead at the scene while two men, who were also suffering from apparent drug overdoses, were transported to hospital and are in critical condition.

"Drug use was apparent at the time, leading us to suspect that drug overdose was the cause for all four of these individuals' medical issues," saidConst.Andrew Mathesonwith the West Shore RCMP.

"Anecdotally, I've never seen four people suffer an overdose simultaneously to this degree," he added.

All four people have been identified, and RCMP are currently notifying their families. Although personal details have not been released, Matheson said it's believed the victims were residents ofthe SouthIsland.

Police say the B.C. Coroners Service has been informed, and foulplay is not suspected.

While officials have not specified the types of drugs involved, they have seized all remaining substances from the scene. An investigation will continue to determine whetherfurther testing of the drugs is necessary, according to Const. Matheson.

Access to the beach and surrounding roads may be restricted during the investigation, police said.

The deaths happened the same day theB.C. Coroners Service announced at least 192 people had died in Julyin B.C. due to unregulated drug toxicity, with approximately 1,365 drug-relateddeaths recorded so far this year.

The number of illicit drug deaths in B.C. has surpassed 15,000 since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016.

The annualized death rate is 41 per 100,000 residents, compared to 46.6 in 2023 and 43.9 in 2021.