Tragedy at Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin: A Community in Mourning

What began as a peaceful weekend getaway for nature lovers at the Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin ended in heartbreak. In a tragic turn of events, a man in his 30s lost his life after a devastating accident in the river, leaving the Saguenay community in shock.

The Sequence of Events: A Sudden Accident

The emergency alarms were triggered late Sunday afternoon. According to reports, a man was accompanying a companion when he accidentally slipped on wet rocks and plummeted into the water. The situation quickly escalated into a crisis as the individual was unable to swim and was not wearing a life jacket—critical pieces of equipment that could have changed the outcome.

Myriam Benoît, the Director General of Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin, confirmed that emergency services were contacted immediately. To ensure the safety of other visitors and facilitate the rescue, citizens on the trails were asked to evacuate the area.

A Race Against Time: The Rescue Operation

The Saguenay Fire Department and the Saguenay Police Service (SPS) launched a massive search and rescue operation. The complexity of the mission was heightened by the river’s natural characteristics:

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• Strong Currents: The high flow of the Rivière-du-Moulin likely carried the victim downstream.
• Treacherous Depths: Some areas of the riverbed reach depths of 15 to 20 feet, making manual searches nearly impossible.
• Low Visibility: As night fell, rescuers had to pivot their strategy.

In a sophisticated effort to locate the man, police deployed a high-tech drone equipped with thermal sensors and night vision. Despite the mobilization of boats and specialized personnel, the search was suspended late Sunday night and resumed early Monday morning.

The Heartbreaking Conclusion

Tragically, the search ended on Monday morning around 10:00 AM, when the man’s lifeless body was recovered. The loss has left friends and family devastated, with many gathering at the park entrance throughout the weekend in hopes of a miracle.

A Growing Concern for Regional Water Safety

This incident is not an isolated case. This marks the second drowning in just two days within the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Only a day prior, a man in his 50s drowned in Saint-Félicien while using a paddleboard after losing his footing.

These tragedies serve as a grim reminder that nature, while beautiful, can be unpredictable and dangerous. Whether you are hiking near banks or engaging in water sports, prioritizing safety is non-negotiable. For comprehensive guidelines on preventing water-related accidents, we recommend visiting the Canadian Red Cross.