A young Montreal lawyer passionate about adventure died crushed by a tree while camping with his girlfriend in an American national park last Tuesday.
“He was an adventurer and passionate about life. The expression “a good jack” is the very definition of Thomas,” recalls his friend and colleague Audrey Champoux.
Thomas Bernier-Villeneuve, 34, had gone on a 25 km hike with his girlfriend in Olympic National Park, Washington, when his fate took a tragic turn.
Courtesy picture
Thomas Bernier Villeneuve
The couple were in their tent in a remote part of the park near Mount Olympus when a nearby tree fell on their canvas shelter.
According to the US National Park Service, the impact was fatal for Mr. Bernier-Villeneuve.
His girlfriend, who was not injured, managed to alert the emergency services within minutes of the accident, since she had a satellite phone.
They arrived on the scene the next morning and were then able to repatriate the body of the Montrealer.
An investigation is underway to understand the reasons surrounding the fall of this tree. However, the weather would not be in question.
Ready for months
According to his colleagues, Mr. Bernier-Villeneuve was an athlete always ready to advise others for their future trips.
“He was passionate about hiking and the outdoors. He had been preparing for this trip for several months. He was really happy to do that, ”says his colleague Caroline Côté.
The young lawyer, who had worked for more than two years at Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur, was passionate about technology and cybersecurity law.
“It was his dream to work in this field,” says Jean-Luc Couture, co-founder of the firm.
Those close to Thomas Bernier-Villeneuve declined requests for interviews from the Logwishing to grieve as a family.
A big void
Many, however, wanted to pay tribute to him on social networks.
“You will leave a great void in our lives. However, I keep you a big place in my heart, dear Thomas, ”wrote his uncle, Benoit Bernier.
“My brother, my best friend, my confidant. I love you, ”said her sister Marie-Charlotte Bernier-Villeneuve.
►In July, a 7-year-old girl also lost her life when a maple tree fell on her tent in a Tennessee national park.