6-year-old girl dies after being pulled from SE Calgary pond

A six‑year‑old girl died Sunday afternoon after being rescued from a storm pond in the southeast Calgary community of Legacy.

Emergency crews were called to the pond near Legacy Main Street SE around 1:15 p.m. for reports of a possible drowning.

Firefighters arrived to find that a family member had gone into the water and pulled the child to shore. Bystanders were already performing CPR, and firefighters took over as paramedics and police reached the scene.

Calgary Fire spokesperson Alex Kwan said crews immediately began resuscitation efforts.

“When our crews arrived, we immediately started CPR,” he said. “When Emergency Health Services arrived on scene, we worked with them to provide all resuscitation efforts.”

Paramedics continued trying to revive the girl, but she was believed to have been underwater for about 20 minutes. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

Aquatic rescue crews searched the pond using surface and sonar equipment and confirmed no one else was in the water.

Kwan emphasized Monday that storm ponds are not designed for recreation.

“Storm ponds like these are not meant for swimming or skating,” he said. “Wherever there is water, there is risk.”

In the hours after the drowning, flowers and handwritten notes from other children who live in the area wer placed along the shoreline as neighbours stopped by to pay their respects.

Legacy resident and mother Teryn Allred said the tragedy hit close to home.

“It’s every mother’s worst nightmare,” she said. “We don’t know her, but my heart goes out to the mom.”

She added that families visit the park daily.

“You turn around for a second and that’s all it takes. It’s just really sad.”