An asylum seeker fleeing the dictator Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela experienced a tragic end by drowning at Verdun beach in early June, just a few months after he had survived an extremely dangerous migratory journey to arrive in the country.
Zico-Kenderson Colina Escobar, 20, swam with his friend at Verdun beach on June 7 when he started “to feel sick,” says his brother Brayhan Zerpa.
Quickly, he sank into the water, triggering a research operation to find him.
The rescue operation to find the victim on June 7.
Photo Olivier Faucher
It was not until a week later, on June 14, that his body was drafted after being transported by the current of the St. Lawrence River tens of kilometers in the east, in the Verchères sector.
“It was obviously a very difficult emotional shock for everyone,” says Brayhan Zerpa, who says that his family stayed on the beach until 3 am hoping that firefighters and police officers find the young man.
In the days following the death of his brother, Brayhan Zerpa went to meditate on the beach by scoring the initials of his brother in the sand accompanied by a heart to pay tribute to him.
Photo provided by Brayhan Zerpa
Venezuelan fleeing Maduro
Originally from Venezuela, members of the Escobar family have arrived in Montreal in recent years in recent years as asylum seekers to flee the government of the dictator Nicolas Maduro, to whom they opposed.
Zico-Kenderson crossed the Canada-American border in bus in October 2024 only eight months ago.
He had just finished a route during which he crossed nearly ten countries from the Venezuela, notably passing on foot by the Darién jungle, an extremely dangerous area where many migrants die.
“It’s really difficult to accept. […] It was full of goals, dreams […]he was a boy without vices, in good health, a good student, a graduate of the school, he was waiting for a place to start learning French, ”laments Mr. Zerpa.
He also describes him as “a great music lover”.
“His dearest dream was to become a big singer. He was ready to work in any area, it doesn’t matter if it was winter or summer, that it is beautiful or that it rains. ”
Crowded beach, but closed
On the day of the tragedy, Verdun beach was officially closed and not monitored until the summer season is opened the following week.
However, while the mercury bordered on 26 ° C, the place had everything except the air of being closed, underlines Brayan Zerpa.
“My brother did not know that Verdun’s beach was closed because there were always a lot of people who took advantage of the beach before it was officially opened,” he explains.
In order to prevent “other dead” like that of Zico-Kenderson, he asks that bathers be better warned in the event of closure, even if it means asking the police to monitor the places to force people not to swim.
