Two people are dead at a popular swimming hole in Elgin, New Brunswick

Two young men died in the river at Gibson Falls in Elgin, New Jersey, according to New Brunswick RCMP.

On Monday at 3:30 p.m., emergency services, including Elgin, Petitcodiac and Sussex fire departments, as well as the New Brunswick Ambulance Service, responded to a report of two men in medical distress in the river.

A 21-year-old man died on the spot after rescuers tried to save his life.

On Tuesday morning, the body of a 24-year-old man was fished out of the river.

Both were Indian citizens, according to a written statement released by NB RCMP.

Longtime Elgin resident Jason Humphrey, who lives near the falls, said he was startled by the sound of sirens on Monday afternoon.

“We don’t need things like this, it’s hard on the Elgin community,” Humphrey said.

“I was lost for words. I didn’t know what to say.

Elgin Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kent Steeves told Global News the popular swimming spot attracts many out-of-towners each summer.

He said visitors often jump off cliffs to get to the water body.

“It’s hard to get there. The easiest thing is to jump, but it’s difficult to get down and get up,” he said.

It is not known whether the two deceased men jumped into the water.

Steeves said his department receives at least one call a year about people needing help in Gibson Falls.

They have been called several times this year.

“Every time we get called in the middle of the day, it’s a big challenge for us because many of the people who call us work out of town,” he said.

“So we are understaffed and have to use mutual aid partners to work on these calls.”

He said anyone swimming at Gibson Falls, which is on private property, does so at their own risk.

“One mistake one way or the other could definitely get them in trouble,” he said.

Humphrey is urging anyone wishing to swim there to exercise caution and not take unnecessary risks.

“When things get dangerous, tragedy happens, whether they get seriously injured or die because they couldn’t do what they wanted to do.”

According to the New Brunswick RCMP, the New Brunswick Coroner’s Office is assisting with the investigation as autopsies are scheduled to determine the exact cause of death for both men.

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