Body of missing Beaumont man found in North Saskatchewan River: RCMP

After a week of searching, police Thursday confirmed they found the body of a 20-year-old Beaumont man who went missing on the North Saskatchewan River near Devon.

On Saturday, Parkland RCMP were informed that human remains were recovered in the North Saskatchewan River by Edmonton firefighters in the Windermere area, police said in a news release. The remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to identify.

“Our condolences go out to Austin’s family and friends,” police said. “The RCMP thanks those individuals and organizations that assisted with the search for Austin.”

In June, the remains of a 14-year-old boy swept away by the river in Edmonton were found more than 100 km downstream. He was one of four teens swimming in the river near Terwillegar Park when he was carried away by the current June 4. A multi-agency search ensued, which culminated a week later when the boy’s remains were found near Smoky Lake, about 120 km northeast of Edmonton.

According to the Canadian Lifesaving Society, an average of 450 Canadians die in preventable water-related incidents each year, 30 of them Albertans.