Search underway for missing firefighter in St. Lawrence River
Read the updated story here: Montreal mayor, fire department pay tribute to firefighter who died during rescue operation
A rescue mission got underway Sunday for a firefighter who fell into the St. Lawrence River after a boat carrying people from a previous rescue mission capsized near the Lachine Rapids.
The boat reportedly sank at around 7:30 p.m.
About half an hour before, four Montreal firefighters responded to a distress signal from another boat in the area.
After picking up the two people who called for help, the rescue boat itself capsized.
While it remains unclear why the accident happened, rescue workers were able to recover everyone on board except the firefighter, who remains missing.
"So the people that they rescued, they went in the water, along with the firefighters," said Longueuil Fire Division Chief Stéphane Difruscia. "But now, all those people are accounted for, except for one firefighter."
Rescue teams from the Montreal police (SPVM), the Surete du Quebec (SQ), the Coast Guard, as well as firefighters from Montreal and Longueuil took part in the search. An SQ helicopter was also on the scene.
"I don't have any information about the condition [of the boat]," said Montreal Fire Chief Louise Desrochers.
"But of course, we're talking about the Lachine Rapids, so the water is really moving around there."
Firefighters asked that the public avoid the intersection of 75th Ave. and Lasalle Blvd. as the search got underway.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.