KAMLOOPS RCMP have recovered the body of a 23-year-old student from the North Thompson River.

On Friday the RCMP announced that at 6:30 a.m., three friends went swimming in the North Thompson River near Chestnut Avenue when one of the men was swept away. His friends attempted to reach him and pull him back to shore but were unsuccessful.

But on Saturday, police said the foreign student was out by the river taking pictures with friends when it appears he stepped a bit too far and fell off a steep embankment.

Kamloops Fire Rescue on Friday deployed their boat on the river immediately after notification but could not locate the missing man. Kamloops Search and Rescue was deployed and Kamloops RCMP used a drone to search river banks downstream from where he went missing.

RCMP requested the public to contact them if they saw the male who was wearing a red sweater and pants.

On Saturday, police announced the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team recovered the student’s body around 10:50 a.m.

In a statement to the media, RCMP said that drowning is believed to be the cause of death, and no criminal activity is suspected. The BC Coroner Services have been called in to attend the scene.

The student’s family lives in India, and police are in contact with them.

Staff Sergeant Mat Van Laer said: “This appears to be nothing less than a truly tragic accident.”

He added: “The public should always be extremely careful around moving water.

“The shore line can shift from year to year and the river floor can drop rapidly in some places”.