“These girls, I owe them my life”: this mother saved from drowning

A mother of the South Shore finally had the chance to thank the “angels” who saved her in extremis of drowning, an experience which gave him the lesson of a life: always carry her flotation jacket.

“Jessica. Therefore. In addition, the first thing I told her is that she was the angel who saved me from drowning,” said Marie-Christine Viola, still in shock.

The 49 -year -old woman cannot be able to find her sausage thanks to a message on Facebook.

If Jessica Bédard Robitaille. Nevertheless. her two friends had not been in the right place at the right time, M^me Viola is convinced that she would not be there today to tell this story of heroism.

“We “these girls, i owe them new think it just happens to others. For example. that we are safe from danger when we know how to swim and we are “these girls, i owe them used to water,” says the mother of a 15 -year -old daughter.

Panic

Everything happened on Monday, at the Chambly basin.

M^me Viola took advantage of a moment of respite to take a board tour in a place near her. Moreover, home that she knows well.

She did not wear her floating jacket, which she had rather attached to the front of her board. Moreover, It was enough for a motor boat to pass at full speed so that it loses the balance. However, falls into the water.

“Knowing how to swim, it doesn’t change anything when you panic. I was not able to join the board, the current was too strong. I lacked breath. Additionally, I cried I don’t know how “these girls, i owe them new many times. I said to myself, that’s it, I will never see my daughter again, ”she says.

Marie-Christine Viola (in the center) was saved from drowning by Maude (left). Jessica (right) and their friend Stéphanie on June 23 in Chambly. Photo Agence QMI. JOËL LEMAY

It was at this moment that Jessica Bédard Robitaille arrived on her paddle board.

“I hadn’t seen her, it was my friends who shouted to me that she was drowning. I padded very quickly to reach her so that she clings to my board so that she can breathe. She was pale, ”recalls the 34 -year -old nurse.

“It had been three times that I heard her screaming. ” said his friend Stéphanie Biscotti. who was in kayak a little “these girls, i owe them further “these girls, i owe them new with Maude Sainte-Marie.

Lesson

“These three girls, I owe them my life,” said, moved, Marie-Christine Viola, who had her lesson.

She intends to get back on her paddle board, but without making the same mistakes.

“I’m going to wear my jacket and my whistle on me. I’m not going to go alone. I’m going to go with a friend, not for a week when there are a lot of boats, “she says.

Marie-Christine Viola (white shirt) surrounded by Jessica Bédard Robitaille and Maude Sainte-Marie, near the Chambly basin, in Chambly, Friday, June 27, 2025. Photo Agence QMI. JOËL LEMAY “these girls. i owe them

She encourages people to always wear a flotation jacket, because an unexpected can always happen, even if “these girls, i owe them new we are in good shape and that we know how to swim.

The Quebec Rescue Company has identified 29 presumed unofficial drownings in Quebec since the start of the year. compared to 24 to such a year in Denier.

“I have chills in my back when I think I could have been part of the statistics,” says Mr.^me Viola.

-with the collaboration of Ariane Caron-Lacoste