Montreal musician Mario Allard dies in tragic fall from balcony

A Montreal musician, Mario Allard died on Sunday after falling from his third-floor balcony of his Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.

The apparent freak-accident happened as Allard threw his Christmas tree over the balcony.

His death has rocked Quebec’s music community.

Allard is being remember as a devoted father and spouse, a friend and a passionate musician, according to flutist Marie Fatima-Rudolf.

“He was a jovial, happy guy that liked to experience lots of things. I think that was his goal, until the end,” she said.

A spokesperson for Urgences-santé said that Allard fell onto a metal fence. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died if his injuries.

“I really just think it's not going to be the same anymore for many people sharing the stage with him and sharing teaching advice and so on,” said fellow musician Marilene Provencher-Leduc.

“He was always helping people and into being part of this community.”

Provencher-Leduc said she played and taught alongside Allard for years.

“It's all the musical scene from Montreal that is really going to be affected,” she added.

Allard was a successful saxophonist who collaborated with several major artists in Quebec such as Robert Charlebois.

“He was very versatile in different styles, very good jazz musician, very good pop and saxophonist and a good composer,” Rudolf noted.

Allard is survived by his spouse and a 6-year-old son.