Ontario Provincial Police say the body of a missing Terrace-born soldier has been recovered from the Ottawa River.
Officials say search crews found 20 year-old Samuel Patrick Eli Christiansen’s body in the same area where he and a friend were swept away by currents Friday night.
The other swimmer was able to make it to shore and call for help, but there was no sign of Christiansen.
Christiansen’s family has issued a statement extending their “heartfelt thanks” to the Ontario Provincial Police, the Whitewater Region Fire Department, the military’s Search and Rescue personnel, and the Ottawa Valley paddling community for their search efforts. They also thanked Hydro Quebec for assisting the search by restricting dam operations.
The Christiansen family says it is grateful for the flood of support from their home family and from the Ottawa Valley.
They are asking for privacy during this difficult time.
Christiansen served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons based at Garrison Petawawa.
