Body of man who jumped off Saskatoon bridge recovered

After 14 days, community members and organizations searched to recover the body of a man from the South Saskatchewan River.

fThe body of a man in Saskatoon has been recovered from the South Saskatchewan River after 14 days.

Community members and organizations gathered to assist the family in searching for 27-year-old Nathaniel Bear, originally from the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak Nation.

On Saturday, March 12th, Prince Albert Grand Council’s Search, Rescue and Recovery (PAGC-SRR) Team and the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART) provided support to the Saskatoon Fire Department in the successful search efforts.

PAGC was contacted by the Chief of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak Nation to use their Search, Rescue and Recovery team to recover Bear’s body.

“We are committed to helping families during their times of grief and loss, and we are fortunate we are able to offer these services to our communities,” stated Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte.

On February 27, Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) were called to the area of its train bridge, and the Saskatoon Fire Department, who had the equipment and resources, were deployed in an effort to rescue the man.

But unfortunately, their efforts were not successful and the search was temporarily suspended and resumed with the assistance of SPS Air Support Unit, the SPS Public Safety Search and Rescue along both sides of the riverbank.

SPS officers along with their air support unit, the SPS Public Safety Search and Rescue and the fire department were part of the search using boats, divers and sonar technology to aid their search.