COMMENTARY: Toddler dies after falling in Calgary lake

A 15-month-old boy has died after falling into Lake Bonaventure in southeast Calgary on Tuesday morning.

First responders were called to the area at about 11 a.m. after the child was found unresponsive in the lake, EMS said.

“We have lakes, we have rivers, and we know that things can turn tragic very quickly,” Calgary Fire Department spokesperson Carol Henke said.

A neighbour said her son, who is in his 20s, stepped in to help with CPR while emergency officials guided him over the phone.

“Having first aid and CPR training is really critical in those first steps because it does take us a few minutes to get there and you can be that critical piece to bridge the gap until emergency responders arrive,” Henke said.

When paramedics arrived, they immediately started resuscitation efforts, EMS said, which they continued as the child was rushed to the South Health Campus hospital.

Family told Global News Tuesday afternoon that the child died.