A young bride uttered six harrowing final words before she was dragged to her death by the weight of her own waterlogged wedding dress, in a tragedy that has sent shockwaves around the world.
The Fatal Photoshoot
Maria Pantazopoulos, a 30-year-old Canadian-Greek property agent, had married her beloved Billy on June 9, 2012. Just weeks later, she sought to participate in the popular 'trash the dress' trend, where newlyweds deliberately ruin their gowns in dramatic photoshoots for social media.
She hired photographer Louis Pagakis, who suggested the location: the Ouareau River near Dorwin Falls in Montreal. This area features a fast-flowing, 60ft-high cascade, steeped in indigenous folklore about a battle between a nun and a wizard. They aimed to find a secluded spot for the session.
'It's Too Heavy': The Final Moments
Pagakis recalled Maria striking poses in the mossy waters near the waterfall before she expressed a desire to go deeper. "She had her wedding dress on and said, 'take some pictures of me while I swim a little bit in the lake,'" he recounted.
A devastating oversight proved fatal. Maria had chosen a heavier bridal gown, whose fabric rapidly absorbed huge amounts of water. The immense weight suddenly made it impossible for her to swim or stay afloat.
Her photographer can still hear her chilling last words as she struggled: "I can't anymore. It's too heavy." Pagakis immediately jumped in to help, but the saturated dress was so burdensome he could not rescue her. A diving team later recovered her body from the lake bed.
Aftermath and a Warning from History
In a formal statement, Maria's heartbroken family said they were certain she "would have never put her life at risk." They stated she had trusted the photographer's location recommendation and felt safe attending the shoot alone. The family called on Rawdon municipal council to implement stronger safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
This was not an isolated incident. In 2015, a viral clip showed newlywed Amy Zuno jumping from a boat in her gown, only for it to quickly absorb water and pull her under. Panicked shouts of "Find her!" were heard before she thankfully surfaced. Reflecting later, that bride reportedly said, "I don't regret it."
Local police sergeant Ronald McInnis's prediction at the time of Maria's death was tragically accurate: this is a story of love, loss, and unforeseen danger that has resonated globally, serving as a sombre warning about the hidden risks of a popular wedding trend.
