A 22-year-old man is presumed dead after he went swimming in a part of the Niagara River known as the whirlpool and failed to resurface.
The man's friends told police they were having a barbeque at the bottom of the gorge Saturday afternoon when he decided to take a quick dip to cool off from the heat. However, he quickly began to struggle against the strong currents of the river.
His friends called for help after it was apparent he was in physical distress and couldn't reach shore.
A number of citizens in the area made several attempts to reach the young man but the strong currents made their task impossible.
Emergency crews, including the U.S. coast guard, Niagara Helicopters Ltd. and the Whirlpool Jet Boat, rushed to the scene and searched for the man's body for more than two hours without avail.
"Despite all efforts the male went beneath the water and has not been seen since," Niagara Regional Police said in a news release Sunday morning. "Police investigation has determined the male is presumed drowned however have not been able to locate him."
Police say they will not identify the victim publicly at this time.
@SandieBenitah is on Twitter. Remember, for instant breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.
