11-year-old dead in suspected drowning during field trip in Medicine Hat

An 11-year-old boy from Medicine Hat is dead after a suspected drowning while on a school field trip.

Medicine Hat Public School Division officials say one of their students died in a suspected drowning during a field trip.

The incident happened Monday at Echo Dale Regional Park in the southern Alberta city.

Local police were called to the area in the afternoon for reports of a missing child.

“Unfortunately, while checking the swim lake and searching the lake, the body of the 11-year-old boy was discovered at the bottom of the lake,” said Staff Sgt. Darren Lole.

The child was taken to hospital by EMS and declared dead.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy that no family should experience,” said Cody Edwards, Medicine Hat Public School Division acting superintendent.

School division officials posted online to parents Tuesday “to share some very difficult news.”

“The student involved in the incident at Echo Dale has passed away,” the post read.

“We know this information is hard to hear.”

“This is a tremendous loss for the student’s family, our school and our broader community,” the post read.

“Our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends, and with all those who are feeling the impact of this loss.”

The school division said it is making support available.

“We recognize that news like this can be difficult to process, and we encourage you to reach out if you or your child need support,” Tuesday’s post read.

In a statement issued Tuesday, police said the incident is under investigation.

“However, foul play is not suspected,” police said.

Police say the incident happened at the swim lake within Echo Dale Regional Park.

Police say lifeguards were on duty at the time.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Echo Dale Regional Park was “closed until further notice.”

Lifesaving Society Alberta says no matter the body of water, everyone needs to be cautious.

“Less than one per cent of drownings occur in indoor, supervised environments,” said Madison Lalonde, Lifesaving Society Alberta interim managing director.

“That’s because these outdoor water environments have a lot of extra hazards involved in them.”

HALO Air Ambulance was dispatched to assist police in Monday’s search-and-rescue response.

On Tuesday, the organization expressed its collective sympathies:

“Today, our hearts are heavy as we join our community in mourning this tragic loss,” a social media post read.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the child’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.

“Our thoughts are also with the first responders, city staff, and everyone involved in the response as they navigate the impact of this tragedy alongside our community.”

McBride’s Bakery in Medicine Hat has announced it will host a donut fundraiser on Wednesday.

All sales will be donated to the boy’s family.

The owner says once he heard about the heartbreaking loss, he knew he wanted to do something to help.

Another fundraiser was planned for that day, but plans changed quickly when news of the boy’s death became public.

“What happened to that family is incomprehensible,” said Brendan Hillson, McBride’s Bakery owner.

“People want to do something—they want to express something.

The bakery will open at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

With files by Karsen Marczuk, Quinn Keenan and Alesia Fieldberg