Two young women were safely rescued from the water near Rock Island, by LaSalle, at approximately 7:30 p.m. after entering an exclusion zone.
Firefighters responded to the emergency, but one civilian using their own Ski-Doos assisted in reaching the victims after emergency crews did not have the specialized equipment needed to access them quickly. Their swift actions helped bring both individuals to safety.
Rescue team trying to save two women on water near LaSalle’s Rock Island. (Courtesy: Facebook/Spotted Verdun)
“Thankfully those citizens on personal watercraft were there, but it should not be their job. The City of Montreal has the coroner’s recommendations in hand: how many victims will it take before it acts?” said Marc-André Gosselin, Treasurer of the Montreal Firefighters Association
Emergency responders established and maintained the exclusion zone while the rescue operation was underway. The two victims were evaluated and were reported to be safe following the incident.
The rescue occurred five years after a fatal incident in the same area, underscoring the dangers of the water. With several drowning incidents reported this year, authorities continue to remind the public to respect exclusion zones and stay out of restricted areas, which are in place to protect public safety.
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
