Montreal police searching for possible drowning victim at Verdun Beach

Montreal police are searching for a 32-year-old man who may have drowned at the Verdun Beach.

Montreal police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils says several calls were made to 911 at around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday to report a man in distress in the St. Lawrence River near the crossing of Gaétan Laberge Boulevard and Hickson Street in the Verdun borough.

Early reports suggest the man may have felt unwell while swimming.

Police and the fire department's nautical patrol began searching the area on Tuesday but were not able to locate the swimmer, according to Chèvrefils.

She said police met with witnesses. Divers from the tactical intervention group and the nautical patrol are expected to continue the operation Wednesday morning. 

'You shouldn't venture into the river,' Verdun mayor says

In June, two people died at the popular swimming spot.

On Wednesday morning, Verdun borough mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger urged residents to limit their swimming during the beach's opening hours — which are every day between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. — when lifeguards are watching over the area.

"[The river] remains a very powerful element of nature. It's not always visible on the surface how strong the currents are," Mauger told Radio-Canada.

"It doesn't matter whether you're a good swimmer or not, you shouldn't venture into the river."

Mauger said the borough improved visual signs to indicate areas where swimming is prohibited and barriers have been added on both sides of the Verdun Beach.