Man who died in Montreal’s ferris wheel accident was civil engineering student

The 22-year-old man who died following a Christmas Day accident at the ferris wheel in Montreal’s Old Port is being remembered as a helpful person.

Polytechnique, an engineering school affiliated with the Université de Montréal, and Montreal’s La Grande Roue both identified the employee as Riley Valcin.

The management of the ferris wheel says in a statement that it is “heartbroken” over the death, which happened following a workplace accident.

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They described the 22-year-old as a positive person who was among the tourist attraction’s most senior and respected employees.

Polytechnique identified Valcin as a civil engineering student and offered condolences to his family and friends.

Since Valcin’s passing, a GoFundMe has been set up to help support the family as they grieve their son and brother.

Quebec’s workplace safety board is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

— With a file from Global News’ Annabelle Olivier