The cause of death of a man found in Okanagan Falls in 2014 remains “undetermined” according to the coroner’s report.
Andrew Scott Gangl, 24, died in Okanagan Falls on April 24, 2014. The conclusion of the coroner’s report states that Gangl died of drowning but alcohol and drug intoxication may have been contributing factors.
According to the report, the Edmonton man had spent the prior two weeks visiting lifelong friends at their Okanagan Falls residence.
A family member received a phone call earlier that day indicating he wished to return to Edmonton. Gangl also requested money be sent to him for bus fare.
Later that same day, he was observed consuming alcohol and crystal methamphetamine. Gangl was last seen departing from his friends’ Okanagan Falls residence at 7 p.m. after having an argument with one of the residents, who subsequently asked him to leave. A witness observed Gangl place ‘a couple’ of ecstasy pills in his pocket prior to leaving the residence.
Gangl was believed to be a good swimmer and did not have any known medical conditions. A parallel police investigation ruled out foul play.
The toxicology analyses indicated that at his time of death, Gangl was “moderately intoxicated” by alcohol, had a blood methamphetamine level within a range where “toxic effects” have been reported and marijuana was also detected in his system.
“The autopsy findings also confirm Mr. Gangl was breathing when he entered the water. This is a non-witnessed incident and the overall evidence, on the balance of probabilities, equally supports this event being classified accidental or suicide,” states the report.
Gangl’s body was found by a person walking his dog alongside the riverbank of the Okanagan River, approximately three kilometres south of the Skaha Dam.