Ferry Quebec/Levis: a man falls into the river St. Lawrence

Catherine Bouchard

Monday, January 8, 2018 09:25

UPDATE
Monday, January 8, 2018 10:48

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A man in his thirty’s fight for his life, after being found in the frigid waters of the St. Lawrence, a little after 9am this morning (Monday).

For reasons yet unknown, man is found in the water shortly after 9am. These are the passengers on the ferry from Lévis, which have alerted the crew of the boat.The individual has been taken care of by the ambulance services. He was in hypothermia severe, says Bill Noonan, a spokesman in the Service of fire prevention of the City of Quebec (SPCIQ).

According to Mr Noonan, the man wore clothes of every day, and there was no boat abandoned nearby.A passenger saw the scene unfold before his eyes. It indicates that the man was not on board the ferry before the event.

Photo Marc Vallières QMI Agency

“We were 50 metres from the shore and as we have seen, in the ice. The current was very strong, he has really crossed. The speed at which the tide goes down, I have the impression that it had been a few minutes that it was in the water already,” says Denis Boucher.”We advised the staff of the boat right away and they threw lifebuoys, but he did not move. With the movement of ice, I would tell you that it is truly miraculous that he made it out of there,” continues the witness.

Photo Marc Vallières QMI Agency

According to Mr. Boucher, the man was still conscious, but hypothermia seemed already to have severely gained his body. “We saw, but it does not seem to be able to do more. I think it was really freezing”, he explains.

“A fight against the ice”

The crew of the ferry has made the water a small emergency boat. At the end of efforts and with the help of a pole, employees of the ferry were able to eradicate the individual of the water. Passengers have also put their efforts to contribute in the rescue operation.

Photo Marc Vallières QMI Agency

“When they were made in the ice, they could not do anything. When the boat was approaching him (the victim), the ice grew at the same time. It was a sort of struggle against ice. Everyone was trying to talk to him so that he remains awake. He could have run ten times,” says Mr. Boucher.

The victim was eventually hung on a pole supported by the crew.

“It is such that it has been saved. He had the energy, grabbed at the pole and they did slip on the ice, ” said Mr. Boucher. The staff has been extraordinary. The one that has maneuvered the rescue boat, it was spectacular to see.”