Calling it a “traumatic situation”, Moose Jaw Police Service Chief Rick Bourassa spoke to the local Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday about the drowning that took place over the weekend in Wakamow Valley. 

Police were called to the park on Friday evening with reports of a drowning in the Moose Jaw River. 

According to Bourassa, it was simply a group of young people who decided to go for a swim, when one of them went underwater. 

Emergency services arrived to help search for the 16-year-old boy. When he was found, Bourassa said CPR was performed before he was airlifted by STARS to Regina where the youth was pronounced dead. 

Since the incident, a GoFundMe page has been set up for the boy’s family and Bourassa credited the people of Moose Jaw for coming together during a difficult time. 

“We are fortunate to live in a community where so many people are so ready to step up and provide supports to those in the community that are struggling, that are going through trauma. So, it's a difficult weekend for a lot of people,” Bourassa said. 

As for the investigation itself, Bourassa couldn’t comment too much as it has now been handed over to the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Office. 

He added that they are continuing to work with the family and everyone involved and his heart goes out to the friends and family of the victim. 

“We investigate all situations of deaths that occur not in hospitals and without doctor's notes being signed. On behalf of the coroner's office, we were able to work with a lot of our community partners on providing supports to the family, to the people who were involved, and the witnesses who had been there,” Bourassa said. 

The next step is the coroner’s office can make recommendations if preventative measures are needed.