21-year-old Montreal man drowns at Pointe Calumet Beach Club

CTV Montreal: Beach Club Drowning

Police have opened a criminal investigation into the drowning death of a 21-year-old Montreal man at the Pointe Calumet Beach Club.

Police arrived at the club around 5:30 p.m. Monday after the young man was found unresponsive in the water. Officers later said he had been in the water for 20 minutes before being removed.

He was transported to hospital in St. Eustache where his death was confirmed.

He has been identified as 21-year-old Giuseppe D’Eugenio.

At the time of the drowning, DJ Oliver Heldens was performing in a concert at the club, but following the tragedy his set was cut short as some 5,000 concertgoers left the scene.

“We've had people in the water, but nothing close to this,” said General Manager Jean-Louis Lebreque.

Customers approached Lebreque’s staff Monday afternoon about a missing friend, last seen jumping off a pier.

Lifeguards searched waters five metres deep and found him unconscious.

“It’s very difficult for the young people who were there. I was there myself when they brought him up and I can't even imagine what it’s like for the family. It’s terrible,” said Lebreque.

It is the first drowning in the Beach Club's 20 years in business. Deux Montagnes police spent Tuesday speaking to employees and reviewing security footage to determine how the fatality occurred.

They and the coroner are waiting on toxicology results.

On Monday evening, police spoke with witnesses.

Police say it’s so far unclear why D’Eugenio was outside the swimming boundaries in an area usually reserved for staff.

“In the swimming areas, there's a cord around it and there is staff watching but on the dock it says you can't,” said Lebreque.

At this point police say there's no evidence of any kind of criminal negligence on the part of the Beach Club.

The Beach Club has been under new management for one year, advertising major events, such as paying high-profile celebrities to appear, and drawing larger crowds.

It says the number of lifeguards and staff has grown accordingly.