‘She touched lots of lives’: Family, police confirm girl drowned in Calgary lake

Calgary police said Saturday that an 11-year-old girl has died after being pulled from a city lake earlier this week.

Oghenefega Mine JohnGold’s family released a statement via police, saying how much they will miss her.

“Though Fega spent a short time on this earth, she touched lots of lives, and her memory will forever be cherished by her family and friends,” they said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Though Fega spent a short time on this earth, she touched lots of lives, and her memory will forever be cherished by her family and friends," they said.

The Calgary Fire Department’s aquatics team was called to Mahogany Lake at about 2 p.m. Monday, June 28, for reports of a young swimmer jumping into the water and not resurfacing.

READ MORE: Girl airlifted to hospital after being pulled from Calgary lake

EMS said the girl was found by rescuers about an hour after she went missing. The CFD said she was found in about 15 to 18 feet of water before being brought to the dock where she was treated by paramedics.

1:54 Girl, man pulled from water and sent to Calgary hospitals in separate incidents

Officials said the girl was then airlifted by STARS Air Ambulance to hospital in critical, life-threatening condition. Police said she died later that day.

JohnGold’s family said she was born in Calgary in October 2009, to Efe and Oghenetega JohnGold.

“She was very active, playful, cheerful and a friendly child, known for her smile and giving great hugs,” her family said.

“She always related positively with everyone around her and had such a great positive attitude, which attracted everyone to her.”

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JohnGold sang in the choir and wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, her family said.