A Quebec coroner has determined that a misleading sign and the absence of safety buoys played a critical role in the tragic drowning of a 20-year-old man at Verdun beach in June. The incident has prompted the City of Montreal to implement significant safety upgrades at the popular waterfront location.
Fatal Misinformation on Display
According to the report by coroner Yves Lambert, released on Friday, November 21, 2025, the only visible sign at the beach on the day of the incident incorrectly stated that the area was being monitored by lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. In reality, the beach was closed and unsupervised, with its official summer opening scheduled for June 14, a full week after the drowning occurred on June 7.
Compounding the danger, the buoys that normally mark the safe swimming zone had been removed for the off-season. They were not due to be reinstalled until just before the beach's official opening. "Despite (it not being open yet), the beach was accessible to everyone, and several people were already there at the time of the incident," Lambert wrote in his findings, which ruled the death an accident.
A Tragic Sequence of Events
The young man, who had taught himself to swim and was in good health, went to the beach with friends around 5 p.m. He entered the water and swam approximately 20 meters towards white navigational aids placed by the coast guard for watercraft. These markers are not affiliated with the beach and are located in an area known for strong currents.
After about five minutes, the man told a friend he had run out of energy. The friend attempted to pull him back to shore while shouting for help. Tragically, after roughly 30 seconds, the man let go and sank below the surface. A nearby boater rescued the friend, and a police cadet on the beach alerted emergency services. The victim's body was found a week later in the St. Lawrence River near Verchères.
City Implements New Safety Measures
In response to this tragedy, the first of three drownings near the beach this year, the City of Montreal has taken several corrective actions. Coroner Lambert's report notes that the city has already installed clearer signage and a map that explicitly indicate the permitted and prohibited areas for swimming.
Additional planned safety enhancements include:
- Installing a permanent chain with a "No Swimming" sign on the far left side of the beach to discourage water access.
- Adding buoys on the right side to warn of strong currents.
- Posting "Beach closed, swimming prohibited" signs during the off-season and removing confusing opening-hour signs.
- Considering the installation of permanent, year-round buoys that swimmers could grab in an emergency.
The city is also collaborating with the Quebec Lifesaving Society to improve signage and deterrent measures in high-risk zones. A public awareness campaign about the dangers of swimming outside designated areas and in whitewater conditions is in development. Furthermore, a representative will visit the beach outside the official season to educate the public directly.
This case has highlighted critical gaps in public safety communication at municipal beaches, leading to a comprehensive review of procedures to prevent future similar incidents.
