An 18-year-old male U of T student has drowned at Gull Lake in Minden during U of T’s Survey Camp for engineering students.

Emergency responders were called to the camp on Deep Bay Road around 4:45 pm. Minden is located about 100 kilometres north of Peterborough.

Sergeant Peter Leon, Central Region media relations coordinator for the Ontario Provincial Police, told The Varsity that so far there is nothing to suggest that the death was suspicious.

“My understanding is the individual who is now deceased was with a group of people in the water. For reasons unknown at this time, he became separated from that group. When they commenced the search for him and located him, they immediately removed him from the water and commenced first aid and CPR.”

Emergency services were called and he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

According to Leon, the student was from the Mississauga area and his family has been contacted. The victim’s name has not been released.

An investigation into the death is currently being carried out and a postmortem has been ordered by the coroner. 

The death was confirmed by a statement from the U of T Engineering Society and the Civil Engineering Club. 

“All of us process tragedies differently and at different times. Do not hesitate to reach out for support,” read the statement. “We express our condolences to all those who have had the good fortune to know the deceased.”

“Today, our attention must be with those affected by this terrible tragedy,” said Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. “The thoughts of our entire community are with the family and friends of the student who died.”

The rest of the week’s programming has been cancelled and the other students returned home Tuesday night.

The survey camp is meant to train Civil and Mineral Engineering students in land surveying and engineering project management. The facility has been in operation since 1920.

If you or someone you know needs help processing this event, you can visit the Health and Wellness Centre at the Koffler Student Services Centre at 214 College St. or over the phone at 416-978-8070.

Editor’s Note (September 5): This article has been updated to include comment from U of T and Haliburton Police.

This story is developing. More to come.