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Lifeguard charged in 2020 drowning death

An aerial view of MacDonald Island Park. MYMCMURRAY/File Photo.

A lifeguard has been charged in connection with the drowning of a man at a public swimming pool in Fort McMurray.

On Dec. 12, 2020, Wood Buffalo RCMP responded to MacDonald Island Park on reports a 34-year-old man had drowned in the aquatic center.

Emergency crews took the man to hospital, where he died six days later.

RCMP said they conducted a lengthy investigation with consultation from Crown prosecutors.

25-year-old Ruslan Atantayev of Calgary, who was employed as a lifeguard at the pool at the time of the incident, has been charged with criminal negligence causing death.

He’s scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 22, 2022.

With files from the Canadian Press