Search efforts are continuing by RCMP to find Surrey resident Ajay Singh, who is presumed drowned at Cultus Lake.
Boat patrols by seasonal policing members went ahead on Monday (July 24) and underwater recovery divers were scheduled to be in the lake on Tuesday.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ajay’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time,” says RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, media spokesperson for the Chilliwack RCMP.
Since the incident last Wednesday (July 19), Ajay’s family and friends were having an extremely tough time of it, according to friend Joban Preet, who contacted The Chilliwack Progress to state that Singh could in fact swim, contrary to some early reports.
Preet was one of group of three friends who gathered by the water at Cultus Lake Friday (July 21), putting up posters titled, ‘Justice for Ajay!’ and asking for the search to be taken seriously. He said they were told they might have to wait until the body resurfaces if it got trapped.
“It is very upsetting,” he said.
The family had been at the lake Friday, he said, and had been hoping for a successful search.
The RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team is expected to be resuming diving and search efforts.
When Singh slipped under the water, he had reportedly been trying to rescue one of his friends, who he believed was drowning after falling off their tube.
It was initially reported from eye-witness accounts to police that Singh did not know how to swim despite jumping in. Since then it has been stated by his friends that he could in fact swim, and one of them said they have proof on video.
“The man went underwater and has yet to resurface,” according to the initial RCMP report.
There does seem to be some confusion over the man’s age. Singh was 22 years old according to B.C. driver’s licence information, police say, but his friends put out a poster on Friday that said he was 23 years old.
Witnesses on shore said they heard cries for help from Singh’s friends, which alerted nearby boaters, jet skiers and swimmers who attempted to spot the missing man. Two women who were with Singh were reported safe after the incident.
A nearby boater was alerted by the sounds of people in distress and he ran over to bring the others to safety before diving in the water himself in attempts to find Singh.
On the same evening it happened, the Cultus Lake Fire Department deployed a boat in order to search for Singh to no avail. Search and Rescue and a member of the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team attended to conduct a site assessment that night.
The underwater recovery Team, together with Search and Rescue and seasonal policing officers began extensive and coordinated search efforts on Thursday morning, and through the weekend.
Sgt. Vrolyk wanted to reassure the family with these words.
“We know that you will not rest until you have answers,” the officer said in the news release. “It is important that you know that our file remains active and we will continue to dedicate resources in efforts to locate Ajay so that you have those answers.”
RELATED: Search at Cultus for man who dove in to save friend
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