HALTON HILLS, Ont. -- The University of Guelph is expressing sympathy to the families of two students involved in a kayaking accident west of Brampton, Ont., on Sunday.

The university said in a statement Monday that Kaya Firth, a third-year English student, died, and her boyfriend, Zach Sutherland, a fourth-year commerce major, is missing.

Campus flags will be lowered to half-mast in honour of the students.

Provincial police say officers and an underwater search and recovery unit are scouring the Credit River in the Terra Cotta Conservation Area for Sutherland.

Firth's body was recovered in the Terra Cotta area on Sunday.

Guelph University president Franco Vaccarino says the community is "deeply saddened" by the incident.

"Our hearts and thoughts go out to the friends and families of these two vibrant young people," Vaccarino said Monday.

The university says counselling services are available to assist students and employees.