The Saskatoon Police Service says a body pulled from the river Saturday night was a 7-year-old-boy who was pronounced deceased on arrival at the hospital. The police were called to the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River near Victoria Avenue for a report of a missing 7-year-old boy. A thorough ground search of the riverbank and surrounding area resulted in officers finding the boy’s discarded belongings and it was believed that he may have entered the water.

Within nine minutes of being notified of a possible person in the water the Saskatoon Fire Department had a boat in the river and was heading to the point where the child was last seen. The shoreline and river were searched and a hand-held Sonar was used to identify objects underwater using sound waves. At 9:22 p.m., two objects of interest were identified at which time divers got into the water to search and at 9:51 p.m. a person was found. Police say the death is not criminal in nature and supports have been offered to the boy’s family.