Verdun Beach

Second drowning at Verdun Beach

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

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Search continues for missing man at Verdun Beach

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The search continues for a 20-year-old man who went missing in the waters off Verdun Beach, near Lasalle Boulevard and De L’Église Street, following a suspected drowning Saturday evening.

Emergency crews were called to the scene around 5:24 p.m. Saturday after reports of a man in distress during a water sport activity. According to preliminary information provided by witnesses to investigators, the man began to struggle in the water. Several bystanders tried to reach him, but he disappeared beneath the surface before anyone could help.

The beach was quickly evacuated and cordoned off as search and rescue operations began. The Coast Guard, the nautical patrol of the Montreal fire department, and nautical division of Montreal police (SPVM) were all involved in the ongoing search, deploying multiple boats on the water. Authorities confirm that strong currents and high water levels continue to complicate recovery efforts.

SPVM spokesperson Antony Dorelas told The Suburban that the search remains ongoing.Dorelas confirmed that efforts to locate the missing man were still underway.

Verdun Beach, which runs along the St. Lawrence River, remains officially closed to the public until June 14. There were no lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident.

City officials warn that swimming or engaging in water activities in unsupervised areas is highly discouraged due to potentially hazardous river conditions.

Authorities are reminding residents to avoid water activities at closed beaches or in areas without lifeguards, particularly with dangerous river conditions at this time of year. n

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