RCMP have recovered body of missing man in Sylvan Lake

RCMP have recovered the body ofPalwinder Singh, 19, who had been missingaftera wave knocked him offan inflatable on Wednesday.

In a press release sent Thursday evening, Sylvan Lake RCMPsaid they found and retrieved Singh's body at 6:35 p.m., in an areanear the spot he had last been seen.

"Family, friends and members of the public have been deeply affected by this tragic event," RCMP said in the release.

Singh's family and friends watchedfrom the shore asRCMPsearched for Singh's body earlier Thursday.

Friend Maninder Kaloti saidthe family is in shock.

"Nobody could believe that happened. Even this morning when we came in, we were still having a hope he would come out from somewhere and we could find him maybe in rough shape but alive."

RCMP say two males were floatingon the lake west of Red Deer on Wednesday afternoon when a wave knocked both into the water. It was unclear whether they were being pulled behind a boat, or just bobbing onthe inflatables.

One of the males was helped out by some people who were close by in a dinghy but the second person could not be found.

A child who was in the dinghy swam to shore for help but police say no children needed to be rescued.

Mounties, aided by the RCMP helicopter and civilian boaters, started a search for the missing man on Wednesday but eventually had to suspend it due to darkness.

They resumed the search Thursday morning, with theuse ofunderwater camerasand sonar.

The Central Alberta Rescue Diving Society's underwater recovery team also joinedthe search.