The Montreal fire department’s nautical rescue unit recovered his body about an hour after he was reported missing.
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A 20-year-old man drowned Sunday in the Olympic Basin after attending the Osheaga music festival.
Montreal police said they received 911 calls at about 7:45 p.m. from the man’s friends reporting that he had disappeared beneath the waters of the basin on Île Notre-Dame, which is usually used for kayaking or rowing competitions.
The Montreal fire department’s nautical rescue unit was deployed to the scene. The man’s body was recovered at about 9 p.m.
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The Quebec coroner’s office confirmed the victim’s identity as Logan Christopher Brideau on Monday. No further details were provided.
In a statement, festival promoter Evenko confirmed it was made aware of a festivalgoer’s death following his departure from the site.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic death and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of this young man,” the communications department said in an email. “We are co-operating with the SPVM investigation, which is currently underway in connection with this sad event. No further details are available at this time.”
Osheaga is held on Île Ste-Hélène, which is connected to Île Notre-Dame by bridges. According to Jean-Drapeau Park’s website, the Olympic Basin closes at 5 p.m. on Sundays. In an email on Monday, the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau described the basin as “a high-level sports facility meeting standardized safety criteria,” but would not make further comments about the incident itself given the ongoing investigation.
“We send our most sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the victim’s loved ones,” it said.
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Sunday’s incident is not the first time an Osheaga festivalgoer has drowned. In 2018, an 18-year-old Ottawa resident’s body was removed from the St. Lawrence River after he had been separated from his friends during a performance. A coroner’s report made public the following year concluded Collins Obiagboso’s death was “of traumatic nature,” but noted the circumstances surrounding it, including how he ended up in the water, “were not able to be determined.”
Evenko did not respond when asked if any safety measures are in place to avoid drowning incidents at the festival. The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau, for its part, called the safety of employees, visitors and partners of the park a priority.
“We deploy several means to ensure a safe and secure environment for all of our visitors,” the communications department said. “Due to the island nature of Parc Jean-Drapeau, access to the banks and bodies of water requires increased vigilance. To deal with this particular character of the park, specific surveillance is in place, with regular patrols throughout the territory.”
It added that it also relies heavily on public awareness and education as well as signage, “as the Quebec Lifesaving Society suggests.”
“A team is also responsible for detecting risky behaviours and intervening with people in potential distress, whether these are problems related to depression, alcohol or drugs, or other factors,” Société du parc Jean-Drapeau said.
kthomas@postmedia.com
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