The body of a father who drowned while trying to rescue his daughter from a Brampton, Ont., lake has been found.

Police were called to Professor's Lake around 11:20 a.m. ET for a distress call. By 2:45 p.m., Peel Regional Police Const. Thomas Ruttan said it was a recovery mission, not a rescue effort.

The 40-year-old man was at the lake with his two daughters, aged 5 and 10.

Girl slipped off a rock

When one of the girls slipped off a rock and went into the water, the man followed her. The girl was able to get out, but he wasn't.

Professor's Lake, near Bovaird Drive East and Bramalea Road, has a roped-in swimming area, but the family was at another part of the lake where swimming is prohibited.

"If you're not a strong swimmer, this is not the place you'd want to be," Ruttan said, adding that the water where the man went in is about 6 metres deep.

Around 5 p.m., police tweeted the man's body had been recovered by a dive team.

"Tragic ending to this day," the tweet said.

Both girls are safe and with their mother, Ruttan said. The man's name has not been released.

Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey sent her condolences to the victim's family in a statement released late Saturday. She also thanked the emergency responders.

"This tragedy serves to remind all citizens that whenever you are close to bodies of water to exercise caution," the satement said.