Swimmer remains missing from St. Lawrence River near Montreal
An unidentified man went missing Friday while swimming in the St. Lawrence River in Montreal.
911 was called around 3:35 p.m. concerning a swimmer in distress near the Concorde Bridge in the Old Port.
Estimated to be in his thirties or forties, the man was reportedly calling for help as he was swept away by the current. At that point, he was too far from the shore for onlookers to come to his aid, according to Montreal police (SPVM).
Witnesses saw the man go under the water but did not see him come back up.
He was last spotted in an area behind Habitat 67, a region popular with surfers, the SPVM said.
A FAMILIAR FACE
Audrey Ruel-Manseau was surfing nearby when the man disappeared.
"He was making peace signs to the people on the shore, he was enjoying his time. And then suddenly, a current just kind of grabbed him and he disappeared," she told CTV News.
"He was waving his hands and asking for help, but it went very fast."
Ruel-Manseau said he was a regular in the area, taking pictures while people surfed, but she doesn't know him personally.
The man remains unidentified.
SEARCH CALLED OFF
Three boats from the Montreal fire department, as well as a police boat and coast guard boat, were on the waters Friday evening attempting to locate the swimmer.
But the search was called off Friday night and throughout the day Saturday, as the current grew too strong to safely navigate the waters.
A search is underway for a man who went missing while swimming in the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. (CTV News)
"We have to think about the safety of the people who are searching, and also, according to the specialist, if someone is imported by the current when it is extremely strong, the possibility that someone is still here after all these hours is kind of low," said SPVM spokesperson Veronique Comtois.
The SPVM said the man likely drowned.
There have been 42 drownings in Quebec so far this year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
DEVELOPING Israel says Hamas deal is 'far' from meeting its demands as Rafah offensive looms
Israel said the terms of a ceasefire deal Hamas accepted on Monday remained 'far from' meeting its demands and warned its military operations in Rafah would continue, even as it sent negotiators to talk to mediators.
2024 Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's annual soiree
Fashion's biggest night out — hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each year on the first Monday of May — is both a forever-evolving spectacle and a carefully crafted event.
Concern over speeding in Fredericton neighbourhood grows after 2 teens, young adult killed in crash
Three people – including two teens – are dead, and two others are injured after a crash that has left a greater Fredericton community shaken.