Death at Oka Park

A man drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming in Oka Park, despite rescue efforts by bystanders.

According to Surete du Quebec (SQ) spokesperson Geneviève Bruneau, emergency services were called to the Lake of Two Mountains shortly before 4 p.m. after receiving reports of swimmers in distress.

Bruneau stated that a man and woman had entered the lake for a swim when they drifted into a deeper section of the water and began experiencing difficulty. The woman tried to help her companion but was unable to do so.

The woman was rescued by two people passing by in a boat, yet the man sank under the water and did not resurface.

Emergency crews responded to the scene, including the SQ, Montreal police, local firefighters, and Urgences Sante. Police officers and cadets also assisted by helping manage the scene and evacuating the beach while rescue operations were underway.

Divers later located the male victim, who was transported to a hospital, where his death was confirmed.

Bruneau said that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drawing remains ongoing.

In a statement, Sepaq, which manages Quebec’s provincial parks, expressed condolences to the victim’s family and friends, and reminded visitors of the importance of swimming only in supervised areas.

Sepaq stated that lakes can pose unexpected dangers, even for experienced swimmers. Sudden changes in water depth, temperature, wind and current changes, uneven lake bottoms, and fatigue can quickly turn a swim into an emergency. While the designated beach at Oka Park is supervised during operating hours, conditions outside the monitored areas or beyond the swimming zones can become hazardous.

“A lake can take a swimmer by surprise, especially with a sudden change in depth,” said Sepaq in the statement. “We will continue to raise awareness among swimmers about the importance of cooling off in supervised areas.”

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Fern Marmont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter