Montreal senior found outside suffering from severe hypothermia

An investigation is underway after a 89-year-old man was found in the freezing cold outside a long-term care residence (CHSLD) in Montreal's east end. (Scott Prouse/CTV News)

An 89-year-old man is in hospital after he was found in the freezing cold outside a long-term care residence (CHSLD) early Wednesday morning.

According to Montreal police (SPVM), the man was found at 7:30 a.m. outside the CHSLD Marie-Victorin, where he is a resident, in the east end Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles borough.

At some point during the night, he had apparently left his apartment through a window “wearing clothes unsuitable for the weather” and was found several hours late by a staff member.

The man was suffering from severe hypothermia and was transported to hospital in serious condition.

An investigation is underway to determine how and why he left the centre without proper attire.

“We are looking to see if there was criminal negligence involved,” said Véronique Dubuc, a spokesperson with Montreal police. “We fear for his life.”

The current high in Montreal is -11 degrees Celsius, with wind chill making it feel more like -27.