More should be done to warn public about Jean-Larose River's dangers: Quebec coroner
Report comes 2 years after Maïté Viens lost her footing at waterfall near Quebec City
More should be done to warn the public about the dangers of a river near Quebec City. That's the conclusion of a coroner's report investigating the death of Maïté Viens.
The 21-year-old drowned in June 2017 after losing her footing at Jean-Larose Falls and falling into the Jean-Larose River near the Mont-Sainte-Anne ski resort.
It took officials more than three weeks to recover her body.
In the report, coroner Andrée Kronström said lack of awareness of whitewater hazards and site management were factors in Viens' death.
Kronström added that though it would be unrealistic to close off access to the bodies of water in Quebec, more can be done to secure the area near the rivers in the area near Jean-Larose Falls.
Kronström suggested the Lifesaving Society of Quebec and the nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne Station could implement measures to better inform the public about the dangers of rapid whitewaters in the area.
The coroner also recommended that access to the Jean-Larose River should be limited during periods of heavy flooding.
Mario Déraspe, a diver and family friend who took part in the search efforts for Viens, welcomed these recommendations.
"I found the site to be dangerous. And in my opinion, if nobody does anything, accidents will happen in the future," Desrape told Radio-Canada.
"The priority should be to do everything that is possible."