Memorial grows at N. Van park for boy who drowned in creek
Posted March 7, 2014 10:33 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Flowers, stuffed animals and notes of sympathy make up a memorial at Garibaldi Park in North Vancouver for a six-year-old boy.
The child died yesterday after he fell into Taylor Creek. At the park’s entrance, you can hear the creek rushing through its bed, still swollen from the rain over previous days.
The playground was quiet this morning; a few people passed by in tears.
The young boy was well-known for his smile and outgoing personality; bright flowers piled at Garibaldi Park are a testament to that.
The sadness is expressed in the notes of sympathy.
One handwritten note that conveys the pain being felt in the neighbourhood reads: “For you, little angel.”
The boy survived a previous incident in a pool
The six-year-old nearly drowned a year ago in his grandmother’s swimming pool.
It was last March when he was found face-down in the pool.
His grandma performed CPR and saved his life. The boy spent a month in hospital before fully recovering.
District warns of dangers
Given yesterday’s tragedy, the District of North Vancouver is warning people about the dangers of high streamflow.
Jeanine Bratina with the District calls the little boy’s death a tragedy and warns streams will become an even bigger hazard this weekend.
“The water levels are going to be higher over the weekend. The current can be deceptive because it’s very swift-moving,” she tells us.
“Our hearts go out to the family of this young boy. There are a number of rivers and creeks running through the district; they’re all running very, very high. It’s very important that people exercise extreme caution.”
She says even getting too close to the streambanks can be dangerous, as many are unstable.
