Kelowna paramedic responds to a downtown overdose while off duty

An off‑duty Kelowna paramedic stopped to assess a man on a downtown sidewalk who appeared to be overdosing and was reported as stable. Emergency Health Services recorded 165 toxic drug poisoning calls in Kelowna in December 2025, a 34 per cent increase from the same month a year earlier.

An off‑duty paramedic and business owner in Kelowna stopped while driving downtown to assess a man on a sidewalk who appeared to be overdosing. The paramedic, Warren Turner, said the man was stable when he checked on him. Turner is a licensed paramedic and runs the Turner Group of Companies, which offers security and training services. Emergency Health Services reported a rise in toxic drug poisoning calls in Kelowna in December 2025. Observed and reported facts: - Warren Turner, described as a licensed paramedic and local business owner, stopped while off duty to assess a man on Lawrence Avenue who appeared to be overdosing; Turner said the man was stable. - Turner said he felt obliged to help because of his paramedic training and license. - Emergency Health Services reported 165 toxic drug poisoning calls in Kelowna in December 2025, a 34 per cent increase from December 2024; the highest number of calls, 52, occurred between Dec. 15 and 21. - On Jan. 14, Kelowna RCMP taped off a downtown alleyway after a body was discovered; police said the incident was not violent in nature and it is unknown if an overdose occurred. Summary: The account highlights that off‑duty and local responders are sometimes involved when suspected overdoses occur downtown, and that toxic drug poisoning calls increased in December 2025. The status of the Jan. 14 alleyway incident remains undetermined at this time.