Nanaimo, B.C. (July 24/06) - A visit to a swimming hole turned tragic for a Kimmirut youth volunteering on Vancouver Island this past Thursday.

James Aqpik, 20, drowned while swimming with friends at Green Lake in Nanaimo, a city of 80,000 located across Georgia Strait about 23 kilometres west of Vancouver.

Aqpik was helping out at a summer arts camp as part of the Northern Youth Abroad Program. The program's chair, Jim Kreuger, said NYAP staff and participants were shocked by the accident and Aqpik's family is devastated.

"They were very distraught and saddened as we all were," Kreuger said.

Aqpik was wading into the lake when he stepped off an underwater ledge. Bystanders tried to help him, but had trouble seeing in the muddy water. Aqpik was recovered 20 minutes later and rushed by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"It was just a tragic accident," said Ralph Hutton, coroner for the Nanaimo region. "There wasn't anything anyone could have done better to help him."

Hutton said no alcohol was involved and no lifeguard was present because the area is a swimming hole surrounded by houses. Aqpik's body was expected home Monday, he said.

NYAP staff have flown to Nanaimo to support the 10 Nunavut youth on Vancouver Island. Program staff are also helping Aqpik's family and friends in Kimmirut, Kreuger said.

The Northern Youth Abroad Program provides travel experience in southern Canada for Northern youth before they attend university.

Kreuger spoke with Aqpik at the start of the program.

"He was so optimistic about what the summer would hold for him."