A retired RCMP officer has drowned after a scuba diving trip with a friend over the weekend.
RCMP Sgt. Shawn Lemay tells CTV News the officer went scuba diving with a friend at Twin Lakes near Breton, Alta. around noon on Saturday when they “encountered some distress.”
Lemay says it’s possible that there was an equipment problem.
The retired officer – who is an experienced diver – did not resurface from the water.
Police were called to the scene and initial attempts to locate the officer were unsuccessful.
Search and Rescue from Rocky Mountain House, Northern Alberta Aquatic Rescue Society and Wetaskiwin RCMP’s dive team searched Saturday night and into Sunday.
The search wrapped up around 4 p.m. Sunday when the officer’s body was recovered from the lake.
The retired officer has been identified as Russell Gillespie. Lemay says he was most recently with K Division.
Gillespie’s friend was not injured.
Police continue to investigate.
Twin Lakes is located about 115 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.
