The adult victim of a fishing incident that resulted in the deaths of five individuals, mostly children, has been identified by the Quebec provincial police (SQ).
In Portneuf-sur-Mer, a village located approximately 550 kilometers northeast of Montreal, a group of 11 individuals were fishing along the shore late Friday night when they were swept up by the tide. Among them was Keven Girard, 37 years old.
Tragically, four children, each over the age of 10, have also passed away. Six other individuals who were part of the fishing party have been successfully rescued.
According to Girard’s aunt by marriage, Vivian Lavoie, two of the victims were Girard’s sons.
According to provincial police, a fishing accident in Quebec has resulted in the tragic deaths of one man and four children.
From the village of Les Bergeronnes, which was also Girard’s hometown, Lavoie expressed in French on Sunday that “everyone is gutted.”
As per the locals, there is a strong sense of familiarity among the residents of this place. The space is limited here. According to the speaker, everyone is impacted as they are all known.
On Saturday morning, the bodies of the young victims were found unresponsive on the river bank. Their deaths were later confirmed a few hours after the discovery.
Following an extensive search that involved divers from the SQ and members of the Canadian Forces, Girard was later pulled from the water on the same day.
The operation involved the participation of police on ATVs and boats, as well as a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter.
An investigation by the SQ is currently underway.
At a press conference on Sunday morning regarding the forest fires near Sept-Îles, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region, expressed her dismay, stating “It’s terrible what happened.”
According to the speaker, psychosocial resources have been made available for individuals in the region. She also extended an invitation to citizens who require assistance to contact 811.
In Portneuf-sur-Mer, Quebec, a fishing incident resulted in the tragic death of Keven Girard, 37, and four children. According to a post on Facebook by Keven Girard, …
In response to recent police statements, a surge of social media activity has emerged, with individuals expressing sorrow, empathy, and deep affection for the victims and their families.
Late Saturday night, Samuel Brassard, Girard’s cousin, posted an image of a burning candle on his relative’s Facebook page.
In a heartfelt message written in French, he expressed, “You were like a brother to me,” and reminisced about their recent gathering just a week prior, which took place shortly after their grandmother’s funeral.
Amidst the somber atmosphere, individuals bid farewell to their dear ones and pondered about who would be the next to depart.
The speaker expressed regret that they did not extend their celebration when bidding farewell to the addressee and their associates, who they now realize they would not see again shortly after.
The individual expressed their love and sorrow towards someone who departed prematurely, stating that they will always remember them.
Condolences were shared on the Facebook page of Portneuf-sur-Mer, a community of approximately 600 individuals located 60 kilometers northeast of Girard’s hometown, by officials.
In a show of solidarity, the municipality of Portneuf-sur-Mer and its citizens have come together to extend their well wishes to the grieving families and their loved ones. The post expressed condolences and offered thoughts to the recipient.
Four young victims have been identified as students from three different schools within the CSS de l’Estuaire, an educational service center responsible for overseeing schools in a portion of Quebec’s Côte-Nord region.
According to a spokesperson from the CSS, classmates and friends will receive support services.
According to an email statement made to CTV News, CSS spokesperson Patricia Lavoie stated that they immediately took action to arrange psychosocial assistance for the families of the victims upon receiving news of the tragic incident on Saturday morning.
According to a local resident, the recent tragedy has had a significant impact on not only the families directly affected, but also on a wide range of young people and staff members at various establishments in the surrounding territory.
According to Lavoie, approximately 15 support workers will be dispatched to the impacted schools on Monday to provide assistance to students requiring aid.
According to the speaker, they are maintaining regular communication with the healthcare network to ensure that they are prepared to provide additional resources if necessary.