A makeshift memorial has sprung up in the southwest community of Millrise, where a 13-year-old was killed in a freak accident on Tuesday.
Duncan McRae was longboarding when he lost control at the bottom of a hill. He ran into a cable fence which cut his throat. He died a short time later.
“This morning I woke up and I thought it wasn’t true,” said one friend. “It was just a dream.”
McRae was wearing a helmet at the time. Longboard instructors say the incident has sent shockwaves through the whole community.
“It just hits us very hard for the entire longboarding community, and it’s very tragic because this is what we try to avoid,” said Phil Black.
“The first thing we teach is actually how to stop if you find yourself in a situation where you need to stop if you’re in trouble, how to stop almost instantly.”
EMS say they hope the tragedy doesn’t prevent kids from being kids.
“We’re still wanting kids to play outside, it’s been a beautiful summer and we want that to continue,” said Naomi Nania. “But just be aware of your surroundings and look for things that could cause harm or could cause an accident.”
Friends say McRae’s mother told them to stick together, and help each other get through the tragedy. Some plan to attend this weekend’s skateboarding championship at Canada Olympic Park, where organizers are planning a ceremony and standing memorial for McRae.
A tribute page has also been set up on Facebook.
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