RCMP believe a 21-year-old man has died after diving near the Seebe Dam about an hour west of Calgary and a 22-year-old man has drowned after sliding down a canal in an area known as Cooper’s Drop near Raymond, south of Lethbridge.

Mounties, STARS, fire crews, and Alpine Helicopters were all part of the search effort that was called in just after 7:30 Wednesday night after reports of a group of friends diving in a river near Canmore and then floating downstream towards the Seebe Dam.

Sgt. Patricia Neely said one of them began to have some difficulty.

“Two of his friends did attempt to assist him, however they were unable to do so and the male went under water and is currently presumed drowned,” she said.

The Seebe Dam is about 25 kilometres east of Canmore and close to two kilometres north of Highway 1.

Raymond RCMP also presume a 22-year-old man has drowned after sliding down into a canal in an area known as Cooper’s Drop, south of Lethbridge.

Around 5:30 p.m. there were reports of a man sliding down a concrete irrigation area into a canal.

Police believe once he hit the water, he had difficulty swimming and may have drowned despite the help of a friend in the area.

Searches for both men have been called off due to darkness and will resume Thursday.