On Monday morning, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) found a helicopter that had sunk in Lake Elvert, in the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve, as well as one of the three occupants of the aircraft.
The police force made the announcement after being called to intervene Sunday evening for three people missing following a transport from Mont-Laurier to Amos. The device was found in the morning, around 9:30 a.m., after an all-night search.
The person found was unconscious, said the SQ, which was not able to provide further information about the victim immediately. “She was transported to the Val-d’Or hospital,” the SQ nevertheless stated.
The search and rescue operation continues to locate the other two occupants. SQ divers are expected in the evening to search the interior of the helicopter, which is submerged in the lake.
Although the exact conditions that led to the accident remain unknown, it appears, based on initial information, that the weather conditions “were difficult,” according to the SQ.
The missing persons had informed their relatives that they were landing while waiting for the weather to improve, relatives who had not heard from them since.