Body of missing swimmer recovered from Maquapit Lake

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 at Maquapit 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 of the RCMP underwater recover team, the man, a 22-year-old from Sitansisk (St. Mary's) First Nation, was found around 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.

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 Brunswickers and was a great example of communities helping communities," Chief Allan Polchies wrote in the statement.

The press release also confirmed Sitansisk's emergency 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.