A drowning that occurred last Saturday in the St. Lawrence, near Montreal, increases the number of these tragedies in Quebec this year, pushing the authorities to call for caution during nautical activities.
“A man and a woman in her forties ventured on foot in the St. Lawrence River in a place where the depth allowed him to a rocky cap, where the man lost foot on the rock and fell into the water,” said Stéphane Tremblay, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec.
The 41 -year -old man sank, where the firefighters recovered his body before his death was noted in the hospital. His comrade was rescued by boaters who were walking in a pontoon in the Pointe-des-Cascades sector, at the west end of the island of Montreal.
The day before, the Quebec rescue company had 31 presumed drownings in the province. At such a date last year, there were 28.
Electric dams
Hydro-Québec electric dams are near the place where the tragedy occurred, which worries Pierre-Alexandre Buisson, spokesperson for the state-owned company.
Because, below the surface of the water, near the entries and exits of water from these infrastructures, the eddies can suck the boats and swimmers towards the bottom of the water, he explained to TVA news, specifying that “the turbines can start at any time”.
“Many boaters and fishermen venture near our facilities, despite the signs,” he said.
Verdun beach
Two deaths particularly struck the imagination in June, when men in their twenties perished while venturing outside the defined security zone of Verdun beach.
Several bathers ventured beyond the limits allowed at Verdun beach in the aftermath of the most recent drowning in this place on the day of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Photo Olivier Faucher
This did not prevent many bathers from venturing out of this sector despite the presence of signs indicating the dangerousness of undertaking such an activity, noted The newspaper A few hours after the drowning on the day of the national holiday.
Beware in Pagaie board
The Sûreté du Québec has published a reminder of the instructions for those who sail on the water aboard a paddle board. A man in his forties lost his life on June 25, by practicing this pleasure sport in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
Pagaie board boaters
Photo provided by Parks Canada
It is notably mandatory to have a whistle and an individual flotation garment, which the SQ strongly recommends carrying on yourself.
It is also more safe to avoid venturing alone on the water as well as informing a close to its route.
Consulting the weather and wearing showy colors to stay visible are also recommended.
