Residents turned upside down after seeing a man in a board at Pagaie drowning Tuesday in the Saint-Charles river, in Montérégie, hope that the authorities will secure the sector of the body of water on which accidents often take place before their eyes.
• Read also: A man drowns during a board outing at Pagaie in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
“Unfortunately, it was a matter of time before a drama arrives. We often witnessed incidents, but it was too much, ”says Mélanie Lapierre.
In the afternoon at Saint-Jean, she was on her balcony in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield when she saw a man and a woman in a board at Pagaie. Mme Lapierre ensures that the two wore a rescue jacket at this time.
Stuck under water
Shortly after, she heard a cry to freeze the blood. Mme Lapierre immediately composed 911.
The 40 -year -old man would have capsized his board near the Masson bridge. He remained stuck under the water of the tens of minutes.
“His board was taken after the pillar of the bridge and was under the eddies on the other side of the pillar, still attached by the safety leash,” describes Mme Lapierre.
A 40-year-old man in a board in Pagaie drowned during Saint-Jean, in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
Photo provided by Mélanie Lapierre
After more than 30 minutes, the firefighters managed to get the bucket out of the water, but his death was found in the hospital. Its flotation jacket would have risen to the surface, according to the resident.
As for the woman who accompanied her, she managed to join the Berge at La Swing.
This portion of the river is particularly dangerous due to small rapids, explains Mme Lapierre.
“People leave where the river is calm, but if they venture further than the Masson bridge, it becomes dangerous,” she said.
Besides, a few minutes after the drama, the firefighters intervened practically in the same place for a family which was unable to return to the banks, reports Christian Poulin, chief operations for the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Fire Safety Service.
Mme Lapierre regularly sees people in a paddle board falling into the water because of the restless current.
The small rapids of the Saint-Charles river, in Montérégie, at the height of the Masson bridge.
Photo provided by Mélanie Lapierre
The authorities arrested
Thus, she wants the authorities to install signs to warn dangers or even water strings to delimit the risk area.
“There must be a solution. Something must be done, because tourists do not necessarily know how dangerous it is, “she believes.
His spouse, Daniel Sénécal, who attended the scene helplessly, abounds in the same direction.
“I’m still upset today [mercredi]. See death live in front of your home, we are never prepared for that and we don’t want to relive that. ”
The firefighter Christian Poulin took steps in this direction with the municipality.
“We don’t want others [décès]”, He lets down.
The Ministry of Transport undertakes major work in early July which will prevent users from continuing their journey to rapids. During this period, “a portage plan is planned,” said the city by email.
Since Monday only, three people have drowned in Greater Montreal.
A 45-year-old diver who sank in the St. Lawrence River, in Coteau-du-Lac, was found on Wednesday before the two days of research.
On Monday, a 27 -year -old man from Congo drowned at Verdun beach.
The rescue company lists 27 drownings since the start of the year, compared to 24 to such a date last year.
