U of T engineering student dies while at school’s survey camp
Posted September 5, 2018 4:54 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The University of Toronto says one of its students has died while attending the school’s engineering survey camp in central Ontario.
The dean of the engineering faculty released a note to staff and students informing them that an 18-year-old civil engineering student died at the facility on Gull Lake near Minden, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that an 18-year-old man from Mississauga had drowned at the camp, which the university uses to train students in land surveying and project management.
Neither the university nor police released the teen’s name.
Engineering Dean Cristina Amon called the incident “heartbreaking” in her message and said counselling services would be available for all who need them.
Activities at the camp have been cancelled for the rest of the week.
“Today, our attention must be with those affected by this terrible tragedy,” Amon said in her message. “The thoughts of our entire community are with the family and friends of the student who died.”
OPP Sgt. Peter Leon said police were called to the camp shortly before 5 p.m. after the teen became separated from a group of people who had all been in the water.
“They commenced a search, located him, removed him from water and immediately commenced first aid and CPR,” Leon said, adding that the cause of the separation was not yet known.
He said emergency responders were attending to the teen when police arrived on the scene, but the student was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to hospital.
Alcohol or other substance use is not believed to be a factor in the death, Leon said.
The University of Toronto Engineering Society issued a message of condolence to the community after learning of the student’s death.
“Both those who knew the individual and those who did not may find themselves affected by this tragic situation,” the statement read. “We are fortunate to be part of a tight-knit community here at UofT Engineering, and today’s news comes as a shock to every one of us.”
