“Despite the speed and efforts of local emergency services, the man had still not regained consciousness when he was treated by paramedics,” said the City in a press release released Thursday.
“The individual in his fifties was subsequently rushed to the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins hospital center, where he was pronounced dead.”
Elected officials and municipal employees “offer their most sincere condolences” to the family and loved ones of the victim, whose identity is not mentioned.
Distress
The Farnham Fire Department was called shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday for a person in distress in the river that crosses the municipality, near Ouellette Park.
“This person would have swum to the center of the river without flotation equipment,” indicates Annie Lévesque, director of the Communications and Citizen Relations Department.
He was trying to find a remote-controlled boat.
The firefighters responded in a “rapid and efficient” manner, says the City. (Archives La Voix de l’Est)
Despite the tragedy, the management of the municipality of some 11,000 inhabitants praised the work of the firefighters for their “rapid and efficient” intervention.
She also reminds us of the importance of wearing a flotation jacket during water activities and that swimming is prohibited in the Yamaska because of the strong currents and the presence of cyanobacteria.
“It’s terrible, it’s a tragedy, hence the importance of remembering not to swim in the river,” said the mayor of Farnham, Patrick Melchior.
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