Search ongoing for man who possibly drowned at Verdun Beach

Montreal police are searching for a man in his 20s who possibly drowned at Verdun Beach.

Montreal police (SPVM) are searching for a man in his 20s who possibly drowned at Verdun Beach Saturday.

The SPVM said it received 911 calls around 5:20 p.m. about a man in distress by Verdun Beach. He was playing a sport in the Saint-Lawrence River near LaSalle Boulevard and de l’Église Street.

When they arrived, officers could not find him from the shore.

SPVM divers, the Montreal Fire Department and the Canadian Coast Guard searched well into the night, police said Sunday morning.

Witnesses were interviewed on-site Saturday.

The search resumed Sunday morning with the man’s family on-site.

Verdun Mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger posted on Facebook saying the “tragedy serves as a reminder of the real dangers of the river, with its strong currents, varying depths and uneven bottom.”

“I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. We share their grief,” she said. “It is essential to swim only when the beach is open and supervised.”

The city of Montreal warns people not to swim in the river without a lifeguard present.

SPVM spokesperson Antony Dorelas says those who do decide to go for a swim should not venture too far in the deep water and consider wearing a safety vest.

When the beach is officially open to the public, ropes and buoys delineate the safe zone for swimmers.

The beach is officially closed until June 14, meaning there are no lifeguards around and the area is unsupervised.

But, with climate change making the swimming season longer, the Quebec Lifesaving Society is considering recommending cities staff their pools and beaches earlier and until later in the season.

“Last year, during the fall we had more drowning situations in September and October because the weather was there,” said director Raynald Hawkins.

With files from CTV News Montreal’s Maria Sarrouh