Group urges caution on the water after second drowning this month at Verdun Beach

A Quebec coroner is investigating after a likely drowning earlier this week at Verdun Beach. It is the second at the same beach since the beginning of June.

A lifesaving group is urging residents to be mindful of the dangers of open waters after a second man has died after going for a swim at Verdun Beach in Montreal.

Montreal police were called to the urban beach Monday afternoon around 4 p.m. after receiving reports of a man who had gone missing in the water. Hours later, his body was recovered from the water by police, saying he likely died in a drowning.

The case was transferred to the coroner’s office to determine the exact cause of death. Since this is the second drowning-related fatality at the beach this month, Quebec’s Lifesaving Society is urging people to be careful while swimming, especially in open bodies of water, which is where 35 per cent of all drownings in the province occur.

“And bathing activities is a principal factor involved with those drowning situations, and that’s why our recommendation is, when you see the swimming area with lifeguard on duty, I think the best thing is to try to [stay in] those swimming areas and don’t try to go on rivers,” said general manager Raynald Hawkins in an interview.

Many people are flocking to beaches and pools this week as a stretch of extreme heat is gripping southern Quebec. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an extreme heat warning for the Montreal area as humidex values soar into the 40s.

• READ MORE: Montreal heat warning: Here’s how to stay safe over the next few days

Hawkins says regardless of your swimming skills, swimming alone is never a good idea as 50 per cent of drownings happen when swimmers are by themselves.

Last week, Montreal police recovered the body of a 20-year-old man who drowned at Verdun Beach on June 7. A 22-year-old man also drowned at the beach last August.

More safety measures needed?

The beach was closed after Monday’s incident but reopened to the public on Tuesday. A sign posted at the beach warns swimmers about the risk of drowning due to strong currents.

Hawkins says the open water might look calm on the surface, but underneath swift currents can quickly put swimmers in danger. “That’s why we always say, if you don’t know the rivers, please don’t use that for bathing activities. Use that for boating activities, like paddling activities with your personal flotation device or other boating activities. But for swimming, I think the best way is to use the [designated] swimming area,” he said.

Hawkins says it’s too soon to say whether or not more signage or other measures are needed to prevent people from drowning at the popular beach, and will be looking at what the coroner has to say. Verdun borough mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

So far this year, there have been 25 drownings in Quebec, according to Hawkins. By this time last year, there were 24 drownings recorded.

There was a total of 60 drownings in the province in 2024, which was down from 85 in 2023.

With files from CTV News’ Swidda Rassy