UPDATE: Memorial grows for Alberta boy who fell through ice in Airdrie
A six-year-old boy has died and his older brother is in hospital after the two fell through the ice in Airdrie Monday afternoon.
The younger boy was airlifted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in critical, life-threatening condition after fire crews retrieved the siblings from the water.
“The area is relatively close to the fire station and the first responders were on scene quite fast, just unfortunately not fast enough,” RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters told Global News.
EMS said the second boy, 10, was taken to hospital by ambulance in stable condition. Paramedics are concerned he may suffer from hypothermia.
“His brother remains in hospital in serious condition,” Peters said at about 4 p.m. Monday.
“We’re told that the prognosis for him is good.”
Officials said someone in the neighbourhood saw the boys playing and then falling through the ice on a canal behind Bayside Drive and called for help at about 1:15 p.m.
“We could hear the screaming and everything,” said Joey Calvitti, a nearby resident.
Calvitti said he was relaxing on his day off when he heard a commotion and before he could figure out what was going on, the fire department had arrived.
“I’ve never seen it (fire department response) that quick… they came and they responded fast.”
Peters described the Airdrie canals as a recreational common area, adding the neighbourhood homes back onto the water.
“Certainly throughout any of the winter months–regardless of when we have some thawing or warmer temperatures–being on or near any ice, whether it’s still water such as a pond or moving water, however slow, such as a canal or river, it is always advisable to stay well away from the ice,” EMS spokesperson Stuart Brideaux said.
“It can never be truly determined what the thickness may be and/or the integrity of the ice. However, even that risk of the cold temperatures of the water can be quite dire if you are submerged for any length of time.”
Peters added the area had seen warm weather in the past few days and that may have weakened the ice.
“Because it’s a collection point for neighbouring areas in the runoff, that makes it even more susceptible to the weather changes,” he said. “Runoff water has an impact on the ice, it makes the ice weaker.
“People might be going ice fishing still at this time of year on lakes out in the woods and that’s fine, you’re not going to have much of an issue there. These ice surfaces are much more susceptible to the weather changes.”
Airdrie is located about 35 kilometres north of Calgary.
-With files from Phil Heidenreich.
Editor’s note: EMS originally said the older sibling is eight years old. RCMP later said he is 10.
Comments