A community in southern Manitoba is in mourning following the death of a child on Tuesday, who fell into a pond by her home near Kane.
“Just a sweet little angel with her fluffy blond hair,” said Susanna Waldner. Her four-year-old cousin Keziah Joy Waldner died on April 9.
Emergency crews and RCMP rushed to the scene on PR 332 east of Kane, west of Morris, around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The child had been pulled out of the water unresponsive. CPR was started and the child was rushed to Morris Hospital, but she later died, said RCMP.
Police said the girl had been playing near her home with other children when she wandered off and fell through the ice into the small pond.
RCMP said frozen ponds and water-filled ditches are even more dangerous during the spring thaw.
“It only takes a second for a child to wander off and it can have disastrous results,” said Sgt. Line Karpish from RCMP.
The community of Kane has just over a hundred people so many knew Keziah well. Residents who spoke to CTV News on Wednesday said the little girl had a big impact.
“She was just that type of little girl. She had enough energy, enough life, for three little girls,” said Patrick Waldner, pastor for the church in Kane.
Keziah’s parents moved to the community from a Hutterite colony 10 years ago. She was the second youngest of seven children.
Patrick Waldner said the close-knit culture of the community is helping the family.
“People are getting small things ready for them, taking care of the food and getting ready for the funeral and wake service,” he said.
Susanna Waldner said there has also been support from dozens of people online.
An autopsy has been scheduled but foul play is not suspected, said RCMP.
- with a report from Alesia Fieldberg
