Death of homeless Innu man found in portable toilet was preventable, says Quebec coroner

CBC News

· Posted: May 15, 2025 10:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: 28 minutes ago

A Quebec coroner looking into the decease of Raphaël "Napa" André, a homeless Innu antheral whose assemblage was recovered wrong a portable toilet successful Montreal successful January 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, concluded his decease was preventable. 

In a study made nationalist connected Thursday, Coroner Stéphanie Gamache wrote that it was intolerable for her to reason that "that Mr. André was solely liable for his fate." 

The 51-year-old from the Innu assemblage of Matimekush-Lac John died due to hypothermia successful a discourse of terrible intoxicant intoxication, but Gamache wrote that determination were systemic failures that contributed to his decease arsenic well. 

"If a doorway had been opened to him and if helium had had a heated and harmless spot to enactment for the night, it is wide to maine ... that helium would not person died, adjacent if helium was heavy intoxicated owed to alcohol," she said. 

His assemblage was recovered steps distant from a structure connected Parc Avenue, that had been closed by nationalist wellness officials due to the fact that of plumbing problems and a COVID-19 outbreak.

Quebec had besides imposed a nighttime curfew to curb the dispersed of the virus.

In her 75-page report, Gamache noted respective gaps oregon failures successful presumption of André's care and entree to services in the months preceding his death.

The 23 recommendations issued successful her study are aimed astatine preventing different decease successful akin circumstances. 

Those recommendations centred connected 5 themes identified by Gamache as ways to fortify the information nett she says is  indispensable to help radical experiencing homelessness regain their rightful spot successful our society.

First she stressed the value of ensuring centralized monitoring for the stateless colonisation who consult assorted facilities wrong the healthcare network.

She besides focused connected the request to make facilities that tin accommodate clients who are intoxicated and person acquired encephalon injuries.

Gamache also underscored the request to enactment taste information astatine the bosom of initiatives to assistance radical experiencing homelessness.

The 4th taxable delves into the peculiar discourse of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gamache said the circumstantial needs of susceptible populations, specified arsenic those experiencing homelessness, request to beryllium considered and taken into relationship erstwhile making exigency decisions. 

Lastly Gamache pointed to the request for imperishable backing for resources that supply exigency shelter. 

Gamache's study follows nationalist enquiry hearings that were held betwixt May 13 and June 10, 2024, and included the information of 51 witnesses.

Among them were Réal McKenzie, Chief of the Innu assemblage of Matimekush-Lac John, arsenic good arsenic André's brother, sister-in-law, and parent who, Gamache said, traveled from their assemblage to testify. 

Gamache expressed her gratitude for their grounds and extended her condolences to the household and community.

 This is simply a processing story. More to come...