The body of the construction worker who fell from a suspended platform attached to the ice bridge next to the Champlain Bridge has been pulled from the St. Lawrence River.
Search and rescue crews spent the day scouring the river after the 44-year-old worker for Groupe TNT plunged into the water after the platform collapsed around 12:20 p.m.
The man was a subcontractor from Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac hired to reinforce the decking of the ice bridge. He was working alone on the platform. The CSST said he was on the platform as it was being moved when it snapped apart.
Firefighters that specialize in water rescue rushed to the scene, and kept their boat close to the bridge as they examined the river.
As the search continued, the Coast Guard and the Sureté du Quebec joined the efforts, and began looking further downstream for the missing man.
“There's a current and wind so it means our search has to encompass a larger area,” said SQ spokesperson Ingrid Asselin.
Divers found the man’s body at 6:30 p.m.
The CSST said it's still trying to determine if the man was wearing a harness or a lifejacket as it investigates the workplace accident.
In the meantime, it has forbidden any work on the site until it decides they are safe. The structure remains closed until further notice, along with shuttle service for cyclists and pedestrians.
