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A diver who worked to recover a small plane that plunged into the Ottawa River died during the recovery effort on Saturday, police said Monday.

John Beevis, 56, of Laurentian Valley Township became entangled in a rope attached to the plane — which made a forced landing on Friday near Balmer Bay on the Ottawa River in the town of Laurentian Hills. The 49-year-old pilot, who had departed from the Deep River airport, suffered minor injuries when he set the plane down in the river after it lost power. He was able to swim to shore.

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Beevis was helping to retrieve the aircraft from the bottom of the river. Efforts made by others at the scene to reach him were unsuccessful.

Several units of the OPP, along with the Renfrew County Paramedics and Garrison Petawawa Fire Department, responded to a 911 call. Members of the OPP underwater search and recovery unit recovered the body later that day.

An autopsy was to be conducted and the investigation was continuing.