Body of missing swimmer recovered from Maquapit Lake - Action News
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New Brunswick

Body of missing swimmer recovered from Maquapit Lake

Search and rescue efforts led to the recovery of the swimmer's body on Sunday afternoon.

No criminality suspected in death of 22-year-old from Sitansisk First Nation

RCMP police car
RCMP say the body of a missing swimmer was recovered from Maquapit Lake on Sunday afternoon after recovery efforts failed on Saturday. (Bert Savard/CBC)

The body of a missing swimmer was recovered from a lake near Fredericton on Sunday, according to the RCMP.

On Saturday around 2 p.m. local time, Keswick RCMP officers responded to a report of a missing swimmer atMaquapit Lake, near Shore Road in Clarks Corner,about 40 minutes east of Fredericton.

Searches failed that day, RCMP wrote in a statement to CBC. They resumed on Sunday, and with the help ofthe RCMP underwater recover team, the man, a 22-year-old from Sitansisk (St. Mary's) First Nation,was foundaround 4 p.m.

"At this time,police do not believe criminality to be a factor in the death," RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Hans J. Ouellette wrote to CBC.

New Brunswick coroner's office is assisting with the investigation, he confirmed, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death.

A man with short, grey hair and wearing a blue shirt with a yellow, beaded necklace stands in front of an orange poster.
Chief Allan Polchies Jr. said Sitansisk will be turning its efforts to supporting John Paul Jr.'s family. (Jeanne Armstrong/CBC)

Sitansisk released a statement on Sunday, naming the swimmer as John Paul Jr.

"We'd like to thank our elders, our Wolastoqey sister communities, Maquapit Lake cottage owners, the local emergency services teams, and our government partners for their grand efforts to bring John home to his family, it was truly a testament to the kindness of New Brunswickersand was a great example of communities helping communities," Chief Allan Polchies wrote in the statement.

The press release also confirmed Sitansisk'semergency measures operations assisted in the search.

Sacred fires are burning at the Maqiyahtimok Centre in Sitansisk, the statement said, with the critical incident stress management team on site for those who need support.