INUVIK - The body of a 14-year-old boy was pulled from the east channel of the Mackenzie River on Monday morning.

An RCMP press release stated the body, whose identity was not disclosed in the release but residents have confirmed to be Burton Keevik of Inuvik, was found at 4 a.m. by searchers close to the location where he was last seen in the water the day before.

Burton Keevik, 14, drowned in the Mackenzie River last weekend. His body was recovered after an exhaustive 26-hour search. - photo courtesy of Emma Tius

Three people who were walking along the river shore Sunday at about 2:30 a.m. spotted a person submerged in the river and called the police, which sparked an all-out search effort involving volunteers, fire department, RCMP and Parks Canada.

RCMP Cpl. Sean Doornbos said it appeared the teenager entered the water by shore. The coroner's office has ruled the boy died from drowning. Doornbos said there is no evidence to suggest alcohol or drugs played a factor.

Doornbos said the Inuvik RCMP has opened an investigation into the drowning. Without being specific, he said there are "plenty of questions that we have."

"Until such a time we deem the case open and shut, we'll continue to make enquiries," he said.

Doornbos expressed gratitude to the many residents who volunteered in the search.

"They did so without hesitation, without formal request, not only their own time but with their own boats to assist with the search. It was actually volunteers who were critical in the recovery of the body."

Mayor Derek Lindsay called the incident sad and tragic, noting it is the second Inuvik youth drowning in the Mackenzie River in the last three summers. Kendra Sittichinli drowned in August 2007 while swimming with a group of friends on the east branch of the Mackenzie River.

Martina Amos, an employee of Video Effects, had become good friends with Burton over the last four years and would on occasion affectionately call him Burtina. While at work she received almost daily visits from the teenager. Like many residents, she said she was shocked and saddened by the tragedy and remembers her friend as a "mischievous kid with a good soul."

She said Keevik was always quick with a compliment for her, and recalled the moment recently when he found out she liked to watch a TV fashion show titled What Not to Wear.

"He said 'I don't know why you watch that show because you always look good,'" she said.

"He was so young. It's a shame."

Burton was a well-liked regular at the Inuvik Youth Centre. On Monday afternoon, staff and kids of all ages constructed a display in Burton Keevik's memory, which they signed and affixed to the wall for others to do the same.