Verdun Beach drowning raises questions about safety and rescue response

A drowning near Verdun Beach in Montreal has renewed concerns about water safety, access, and rescue capacity along the St. Lawrence River. Borough mayor CélineAudrey Beauregard said the beach needs more secure entry points to the water after the death of an 18yearold man, the fourth drowning near the site in a little more than a year. Beauregard said the small beach is drawing far more people than it was built to handle and that many visitors are unfamiliar with river conditions. The borough has launched an awareness campaign and added signage and security staff, but she said more support is needed from other officials to help spread safety messages. The Montreal firefighters' association said crews are not properly equipped for swift water rescues at the beach, noting that the nearest fire station does not have a boat and that responders often wait for one to arrive from the Old Port. The city said boat placement is managed by the fire service, which said its water rescue teams are mainly used for boating incidents and are not trained for swift water rescues.