Body of 32-year-old man who drowned at Verdun beach recovered
Posted July 16, 2025 7:10 am.
Last Updated July 17, 2025 12:54 pm.
The body of the 32-year-old man who allegedly drowned in the waters of the St. Lawrence River in the Verdun borough of Montreal on Tuesday night, was found Wednesday evening.
According to Montreal police (SPVM), the 911 centre received calls around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday regarding a man who appeared to be in distress in the river, near the intersection of Gaëtan-Laberge Boulevard and Hickson Street.
“According to initial reports, the victim, a 32-year-old man, apparently collapsed while swimming,” explained SPVM spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils.
Upon arrival, police officers did not locate the victim in the water, so a search operation was launched. Water patrol teams from the fire department and police were deployed, but without success.
“My friend ran to me saying somebody was in trouble and I had CPR and I used to be a lifeguard, so I ran over to check the next lot,” said Gemini Keiths, Montrealer. “This guy was in the water frantically looking for somebody. He said he saw him go underneath, like he saw his head and then he went under and he didn’t come back up. So he had gone down and was searching for him on the bottom.”
“And then I yelled at everybody behind me up on the bank here for 911,” added Keiths. “So several people said it was cool, they called 911.”
“They were here all night long and in fact I think they might still be going around in circles, but they were up all night long,” said Keiths.
The search continued Wednesday, including the presence of divers from the tactical intervention group, who recovered a body from the water early in the evening, around 6:30 p.m., explained Manuel Couture, spokesperson for the SPVM.
Investigators later confirmed that the body was the man presumed to have drowned the previous day.
It’s a possible third drowning near Verdun Beach since last month.
Raynald Hawkins, executive director for the Quebec Branch of the Lifesaving Society, says people should not swim outside of the boundaries of Verdun Beach, which may have contributed in this instance.
“Please use those swimming facilities,” said Hawkins. “When you make the decision to go outside the swimming lane, you increase the probability to have this kind of situation and maybe this is what happened yesterday again.”
Swimming and spending time next to the St. Lawrence river just beyond the supervised Verdun beach area has become a popular hang out spot.
“We’ve been swimming, the people who’ve been living in Verdun have been swimming outside of the designated area for like many, many years, decades and it’s been fine,” said Verdun resident Sarah.
“It’s a very beautiful beach, a picturesque view, and I go to the beach to swim from this setting,” said Irina Avdienko, Montrealer.
“I see the beach at Verdun so popular that I think we need more public access and safe access with lifeguards all around the island of Montreal so that there will be a little bit less pressure on the river banks in Verdun,” said Marie-Andrée Mauger, borough mayor in Verdun.
This is the 36th drowning in Quebec this year. At this time last year, there were at 30 drownings.
“It’s sad that it’s happening pretty often, very sad,” said Avdienko.
“I don’t know, I don’t know what to say about it, because my mind is like overwhelmed,” said Keiths.
“Another drowning is one too many,” said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante on X. “A 32-year-old man is missing after venturing into the river in an area not designated for swimming. This leads me to ask you to be careful and to respect safety instructions and designated swimming areas. We do not want such a tragedy to happen again.
“My thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
Many Quebecers are preparing to head off on vacation for the province’s annual “construction holidays” later this week, meaning more people will be on lakes and in rivers enjoying the water. And starting Monday, it’s National Drowning Prevention Week.
The coroner has been mandated to investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding this drowning.
-With files from The Canadian Press
