RCMP recover drowning victim’s remains from gravel pit near Grunthal

RCMP have recovered the body of an 18-year-old man who drowned while swimming in a gravel pit near Grunthal on Sunday.

St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP were sent to Road 25 East in the Rural Municipality of Hanover at about 9:30 p.m., an RCMP news release said Monday.

Police said a group of friends were at the pit when one person tried to swim across it but disappeared halfway and never resurfaced. 

RCMP and local fire crews tried to find the man, with STARS air ambulance also shining a spotlight on the body of water while flying overhead, but search efforts were unsuccessful.

On Monday afternoon, the RCMP underwater recovery team located the man’s body. 

Andrew Fehr, who owns nearby Green Valley RV and Cabins, witnessed police searching the pit.

“It’s a little bit shocking and it’s just really sad,” said Fehr. “It brings it close to home.”

He said despite ‘no trespassing’ signs and physical barriers in place to keep people out, people have been swimming there for years.

He said the pit has steep dropoffs and is about 20 feet deep.

“You can really easily drown in there if you don’t know how to swim or you’re not a strong swimmer,” Fehr said. “There’s no swimming to the side of the pool, it’s a gravel pit, the edges drop off very fast and it’s deep water.”

RCMP continue to investigate.