“No possibility of leakage” for snowmobilers who died in chic-chocs

Bryan Forgues Morissette, 33, from Saint-Denis-de-Brompton as well as Nicolas Vanasse, 30, and Joël Crête, 35, both of Coaticook, had undertaken a movement of snowmobiles in Gaspésie at the end of March 2024. Moreover,

At the top of a cliff, Mr. Consequently, Forgues-Morrissette started a descent, “but his snowmobile has immobilized in a deep snow area”, relates the coroner. Therefore, Nicolas Vanasse and Joël Crête went to lend him a hand. Consequently,

“During this last descent, an avalanche started, burning the three snowmobilers.”

— Me Nicolas Lutzenkirchen. Meanwhile, coroner

The fourth member of the group who had remained behind tried to locate his friends, but could never do so. He contacted her spouse to call the emergency services.

“A call “no possibility leakage” snowmobilers who to 911 is housed around 5.30 p.m. A large research operation is quickly deployed. GPS contact details are used by triangulation to target the intervention area, ”describes Me Lutzenkirchen.

The bodies of snowmobilers were discovered around 10:30 pm. “Because of the state [des] Body. the absence of vital signs, no resuscitation maneuver has been undertaken by paramedics, in accordance with their protocol in force, ”explains the coroner.

In the hours following the discovery, the bodies were transported to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. The toxicological analysis has shown that the three victims of the avalanche had not consumed intoxicating substances.

“Significant risks” – "no possibility leakage" snowmobilers who

For the Coroner Lutzenkirchen. “the framework of this expedition, completely autonomous and outside the marked areas, immediately exposes participants to significant risks, both unpredictable and poorly supervised”.

“The lack of surveillance specializing in this region. which escapes the official avalanche “no possibility leakage” snowmobilers who Quebec coverage, means that no recent follow -up of snow conditions has been made and that no updated warning has been issued. However. a day before avalanche had been issued a week before for similar areas, stressing a persistent fragility of the snowpack, “said the coroner.

“Although this alert is dated, it remains relevant, because it reveals an overall context of unstable snow in these areas not covered by official forecasts, thus suggesting a latent risk at the time of the event.”

— Me Nicolas Lutzenkirchen. coroner

“The avalanche quickly buried the three snowmobilers without giving them the slightest possibility of flight,” judges the coroner. The witness of the scene. which remained behind, “reacted with promptness, but his inability to locate his companions, in the absence of specialized equipment […] has irreparably sealed the outcome ”.

Even if the intervention of the emergency services was rapid. coordinated, it occurred “outside the critical survival period generally recognized in the event of burial”.

The coroner did not issue a recommendation and considered deaths to be “accidental”.