Police have confirmed that a 61-year-old fisherman who was taken to a Montreal hospital Wednesday night has died.
The man was fishing in the St. Lawrence River when he lost his footing and was taken by the current at 8 p.m., according to Daniel Lacoursière, spokesperson for the Montreal police.
He was fishing with the water up to his knees at Parc des Rapides in LaSalle.
"Four people jumped in the water and they were able to hold the man against some rocks," Lacoursière said. "When police officers arrived on the scene, they jumped in the water and were able to bring the five people back to shore."
Police officers arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after the man went into the water. They were most likely alerted by somebody on shore, Lacoursière said.
Police could not confirm whether the man died from drowning or from a heart attack, but family members did say he had a previous heart condition.
The cause of death won't be known until an autopsy is carried out.
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