Cultus Lake Waterpark in British Columbia has started a phased reopening on July 29, following a six-week safety investigation into an electrical incident on June 15 that hospitalized 12 children.
The incident occurred when a dozen youths aged 12 to 13 received electrical shocks and burn injuries after touching a metal handrail while waiting in line for the Zero to 60 Raceway slide.
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Emergency responders transported the victims to the hospital, including two children airlifted via air ambulance with serious but stable injuries.
Investigation Findings
According to provincial safety regulators, initial inspections revealed critical installation flaws within the park's electrical infrastructure.
"We can share that portions of the electrical system in the park, originally installed during a park expansion, were not properly bonded or grounded," said Kate Parker, Technical Safety B.
C. vice-president of operations.
Inspectors noted that proper bonding maintains equal electrical potential across metal components, while grounding directs excess currents into the earth to trigger circuit breakers during system faults.
"When electrical faults developed in a nearby building and light fixture, the deficiencies in the grounding system prevented the proper operation of circuit breakers, and the handrail became energized," said Parker.
Licenced contractors completed repairs to bring the facility into compliance with provincial electrical codes, enabling safety officers to approve the initial reopening phase.
"The park has also passed a thorough inspection by our TSBC safety officers, and we worked in tandem with Fraser Health, WorkSafe BC and the RCMP, who had their own inquiries and requirements for reopening," said Parker.
