The body of missing swimmer William Johnston was found by search crews Sunday.
OPP say he was recovered about 11:30 a.m. in the waters of Lake Erie.
"After three days of searching, Elgin OPP confirms the body of the missing swimmer has been recovered," a release says.
"The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (USRU), with assistance from the Elgin County OPP, and the Central Elgin Fire Services, were able to locate and recover the deceased..."
The 18-year-old Londoner went missing just before 4 p.m. on Thursday just off the shores of the main beach in Port Stanley.
He was with a 19-year-old friend at the time. Samantha Tilson left a comment on CTV London's Facebook page, saying people had the wrong idea about what happened.
"We didn't see the red flags. Nobody warned us; other people were in the water. Even if we did see them we wouldn't have known what they were."
Tilson further wrote on Facebook that lifeguards tried to reach Johnston but the pull of the water was too much. She thanked everyone for their support.
Helicopters, divers, firefighters and volunteers all helped in the search. A human chain was formed shortly after he disappeared in the water.
OPP thanked everyone who helped in the search.
Johnston's family also expressed thanks to everyone who helped in the search and the Port Stanley community for the support while they waited for him to be found.
The family was given a donation from a man to help with the cost of a funeral. "He gave us money to help bury my son," Johnston's mother Josephine said.
She remembers him as someone who would help anyone.
"My son was amazing. He was kind and gentle and loving," she told CTV News. "He would give his shirt off his back to help everybody."
- with files from Kathy Rumleski, CTV London
