More should be done to warn public about Jean-Larose River's dangers: Quebec coroner - Action News
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More should be done to warn public about Jean-Larose River's dangers: Quebec coroner

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 drowning death ofMat Viens, 21.

Report comes 2 years after Mat Viens lost her footing at waterfall near Quebec City

Mat Viens, 21, died in 2017 after she lost her footing and was swept into a waterfall near Quebec City. A coroner's report said more should be done to warn the public about the dangers of Jean-Larose River. (Mat Viens/Facebook)

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 ofMat Viens.

The 21-year-old drowned in June 2017 after losing her footing at Jean-LaroseFalls andfalling 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 AndreKronstrmsaid lack of awareness of whitewater hazards and site management werefactors in Viens' death.

Kronstrm added that though it would be unrealistic to close off access to thebodies of water in Quebec, more canbe done to secure the area near the rivers in the area near Jean-Larose Falls.

Kronstrm suggestedthe Lifesaving Society of Quebec and the nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne Station could implement measures to better inform the public about the dangers of rapidwhitewaters in the area.

The coroneralso recommended that access to the Jean-Larose River should be limited during periods of heavy flooding.

Mario Draspe, 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."