The Cameroonian community in Canada has been thrown into mourning after the body of missing seven-year-old boy, Nathanael Selambi, was found in Lake Niapenco in Hamilton, Ontario.

Reports said the victim went to the Binbrook Conservation Area to celebrate Canada Day on July 1 with the Cameroonian community when he vanished without trace after last last seen on the beach near an inflatable floating park located in the area. 

The Peoples Gazette gathered that his disappearance was subsequently reported to the Hamilton Police Service (HPS), which launched a search and rescue, leading to the discovery of Selambi’s lifeless body in the lake at 1:37 p.m. on July 2. 

“It’s a hard day, of course, for his family … our heart just really goes out to them. It is a hard time for our officers … people that were there yesterday, we have families, we have kids. 

“We can put ourselves in that position and it can be a lot for us to carry,” the public information officer for the HPS, Adam Kimber told CBC Hamilton. 

The owner of the inflatable structure called FunSplash Zone Park reportedly stated that they couldn’t confirm if the boy made it to the park. 

Mr Kimber, however, said that the victim’s remains were found submerged in the surrounding area even before Peel Region dive team went into the water. 

“We had quite inclement weather around 5 p.m. It did create some waves and create some disturbance in the water there. So from where he was located [Thursday] to where he became deceased is not clear,” Mr Kimber said.

Meanwhile, the Hamilton police believed that there was no evidence of foul play regarding the incident and were not treating the case as suspicious. 

The Hamilton Mayor, Andrea Horwath, in a statement, said she was “heartbroken to learn that 7-year-old Nathanael Selambi has been found deceased. My thoughts are with Nathanael’s family, loved ones, classmates, and all those grieving this unimaginable loss.”

She added, “Thank you to the Hamilton Police Service, emergency responders, community partners, volunteers, and everyone who supported the search during this incredibly difficult time for Nathanael’s family and our community.”

Also, co-owner of FunSplash Sports Park, Teresa Jackson, noted that she was heartbroken by the news. 

“Our hearts are absolutely broken for the family that was affected by this absolute tragic loss … and our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time,” she stated.

She, however, doubted if Selambi made it into the park as he would have had to “purchase a pass and get a risk test and go through our safety briefing” before going on the inflatables and that was “not ever done.”

Recall that The Gazette last month reported that the Indian government issued a travel advisory warning its citizens in Canada to take extra precautions around water bodies over what it described as rising cases of drowning involving nationals.