An enthusiast of fossil and history of Estrie experienced a tragic end on Saturday morning following a rocky landslide in New Richmond, in Gaspésie.
• Read also: New Richmond: A tourist in Estrie loses his life following a rocky landslide
“He was a very prudent person who gave us morals all the time. If he suspected something, he would not have been there, “says his granddaughter, Amélie Lavoie.
Clément Ménard was a lover of Henderson beach.
Resident of Pike River, Estrie, this 86 -year -old man devoted most of his summers for ten years to explore the beach and the cliff of Henderson, looking for precious memories.
“It was his spot to him in fact. If there was a place in the world where he liked to be, it was there. Each summer, he was looking forward to leaving, he told us about it all the time. (…) He picked up fossils, semi-precious stones, small agates, washed glass too. Its vanwas to be filled with fossils. He liked that. He brought us a lot of memories to his grandchildren, ”recalls the woman.
Sociable naturally, the octogenarian shared his discoveries and transmitted his knowledge to the people he met.
The height of the irony of fate, it was in this place that he cherished as long as he died, victim of a rocky landslide.
“We imagine that he was sitting on a rock enjoying the beautiful view and it is an unfortunate accident,” comments Ms. Lavoie. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. ”
Local authorities quickly prohibited access to the site appreciated by premises and tourists.
Panels inviting visitors to maintain a safety distance with the wall are visible in several places.
“This is the first time that we have seen an event of this magnitude with such a large volume that has won the wall, but I am not a specialist,” said the mayor of the municipality, Éric Dubé, who asks visitors to respect the security barriers.
The incident is the subject of a coroner investigation.
Specialists went on site on Saturday at the end of the day to analyze the phenomenon. A situation report should be available in the coming days.
“With his eye as a specialist, he assesses if there are special issues with the cliff, security issues at this level and are there any recommendations to set up,” says Hugo Martin, acting regional director of the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
“I hope there will be conclusions that will be drawn from it and that there will be precautions that will be taken, it is certain that we do not want it to reproduce to anyone,” he breathes.
What brings some comfort to his granddaughter is that his grandfather died in the decor that made his heart vibrate.
“It was his place. There was no other place where he could live his last moments. It was there. “
With the information of Patrick Giguère
