Homeless man rescued from demolition-site building in Rosemont after standoff

A 44-year-old homeless man was rescued Friday morning from a building on the brink of demolition in Montreal's Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough, after construction workers discovered him inside before excavation began.

The incident unfolded at the former Bingo Masson, located at the corner of Masson and Lafond streets. Officials were called to the construction site around 10:30 a.m. after workers spotted the man on the ground floor. According to Montreal police (SPVM), he had broken into the building and refused to leave.

Authorities used a drone to locate his exact position before Montreal Fire Department arrived to secure the area and conduct the evacuation. The operation concluded around 1:30 p.m. The man was escorted from the damaged building and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made at the time of the report.

The rescue occurs as the city grapples with homelessness pressures. Authorities said the investigation into the incident is ongoing, though details about why the man entered the building and his current hospital status were not disclosed.