By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

The Quebec Coroner’s office is now investigating after police found the body of a man who had gone missing at Verdun Beach. This is now the second death at Verdun Beach in just under a month.

Another man, 20 years old, went missing in the same area on June 7. The man found last week, whose identity has been withheld, was also said to be in his 20s.

“There is nothing sadder in my role as mayor than announcing a drowning,” Verdun Mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger said as she offered her condolences to the victim’s loved ones.

Both men were said to have been swimming outside the beach’s designated swimming area. Mauger urged beach users to exercise caution. “Verdun has 15 km of public shoreline; it will never be possible to control all the comings and goings.”

Last Monday and Tuesday were two of the season’s hottest, with many people taking to the beach to keep cool. The beach was closed while police were investigating.

“The weather is nice and warm, the beach is crowded,” she added, “but let’s remember that outside the supervised swimming area, the river is very dangerous and swimming conditions are very risky.”

Police searched for the latest victim for hours with the assistance of the Montreal fire department and the Canada Coast Guard. The man was found and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say the death was accidental. But the coroner is investigating both deaths to try to determine the circumstances behind each. n