Montreal police and fire crews have recovered the body of a man who fell into the St. Lawrence River near the Old Port last weekend, the service said Friday. The Quebec coroner has identified the deceased as Sarr David Vericain, a 36-year-old resident of Laval, and has been mandated to investigate.
How the recovery unfolded
City emergency services located and retrieved the body after a member of the public reported a floating body in the river. According to police, a 911 call was received at about 6:15 p.m. Thursday reporting the presence of a body near Parc Dieppe. The Montreal police nautical patrol located the remains and Montreal firefighters recovered them from the water.
“The identity of the deceased has been confirmed by the coroner as Sarr David Vericain from Laval.”
Police said the recovered body was identified as the man who prompted a major search operation earlier in the week after he fell into the Old Port on Sunday. The Quebec coroner’s office named Steeve Poisson as the coroner tasked with conducting the investigation.
Local response and next steps
The incident drew a coordinated response from maritime patrol units and the Montreal Fire Department. Police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils confirmed the identification and the coroner’s mandate. No further details about the circumstances of the fall or the progress of the coroner’s inquiry have been released.
- Victim: Sarr David Vericain, 36, from Laval
- Initial incident: Fall into the Old Port waters on Sunday
- Recovery: Body located after a 911 call about 6:15 p.m. Thursday; recovered by firefighters; announced Friday
- Investigation: Coroner Steeve Poisson mandated to investigate
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Man fell into the waters of the Old Port, prompting a major search operation |
| Thursday, ~6:15 p.m. | 911 call reporting a body floating near Parc Dieppe; nautical patrol located the remains |
| Friday | Montreal police announced recovery; coroner confirmed identity and launched an investigation |
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances of the fall or whether foul play is suspected. The coroner’s investigation will determine cause and manner of death and may take several weeks. In the meantime, the presence of emergency vessels and search operations earlier in the week disrupted normal activity along portions of the Old Port waterfront.
