UPDATE: Greagan Geldenhuys’ family ‘truly grateful’ for search effort
It’s the tragic outcome everyone feared; police believe they have found the body of missing seven-year-old Greagan Geldenhuys.
Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP responded to reports of a body in Echo Lake at approximately 9:52 a.m. on Sunday.
According to the family, Greagan was discovered along the same stretch of beach near the Fort Campground where his mother, 47-year-old Tamaine Geldenhuys, was found dead eight days earlier.
“You always have it in your mind that this is a possibility of what’s going to happen- you just hope it isn’t,” volunteer Jason Zaphe said. “So it really touched me, especially as the father of three kids – it hits home.”
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Zaphe is one of more than 100 volunteers from across the province who dedicated their time to finding the young boy.
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The seven-year-old was last seen on Aug. 24, the day before the body of his mother washed up on shore. Police believe the two were together sometime before Tamaine’s death.
While police haven’t confirmed the circumstances surrounding the deaths, they do say there’s no evidence to suggest foul play. The family believes their deaths are swimming related, saying the two were strong swimmers who loved to be near the water.
Last Monday, RCMP issued a statement calling the search a recovery mission as friends and family continued to hold out hope.
“It was a really emotional thing, seeing everyone come together like that. It just shows how communities band together and perfect strangers can just meet and walk up like you’ve known each other for ever,” Zaphe said.
The RCMP underwater recovery team also conducted searches of Echo Lake with additional supports on stand-by.
Earlier Sunday, Greagan’s uncle Darcy Pantel issued a statement:
Police weren’t available for comment, but say they are continuing to work with the coroners office as the investigation continues.
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