Basseterre (St.Kitts), March 31 (IANS): The St.Kitts and Nevis government on Monday expressed regret at the death of Canadian athlete Daundre Barnaby who was swimming with his teammates in the sea here on Friday.

Sports Minister Shawn Richards said all efforts to assist 2012 Olympian Barnaby were unsuccessful when he encountered difficulty after he went into the sea, reports CMC.

After a three-hour search, Barnaby, a native of Jamaica who became a citizen of Canada, was recovered from the water.

"All efforts to assist Barnaby were unsuccessful. An extensive search and rescue effort was immediately launched by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis police force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Coast Guard and local diver Kenneth Samuel," Richards said.

"After more than a three-hour search, Barnaby was recovered from the water. Tragically, the attempts to resuscitate him failed".

Barnaby had travelled to St. Kitts with 20 other athletes and eight officials for the team’s annual training camp, Canada Athletics reported.

He was swimming recreationally with teammates when he disappeared and reports suggest he apparently lost his footing and was dragged away by an undertow.

“He chose to give of his skills and competence in sharing with his peers and with the youth of our federation. This speaks volumes of a young star gone far too soon,” the sports minister said.

“It was Tuesday of last week that I met with the staff and team members of Athletics Canada and realised first hand the family-like spirit of interactions. I am truly touched by their loss, by our loss”.

Barnaby, 24, a 400-metre specialist, was from St. Ann Jamaica and became a Canadian citizen in time to compete at the 2012 London Olympics.

The runner from Brampton, Ont, last represented Canada at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.