Six-year-old girl drowns at Oshawa house party
Posted June 13, 2021 10:56 am.
Last Updated June 13, 2021 7:31 pm.
Durham police say a six-year old child has died after drowning at a large house party in Oshawa on Saturday.
Police were called to a home near Birchview Drive and Ormond Drive around 7 p.m. and when they arrived, officers were told a six-year-old girl was missing.
Police searched the property and found the child in the pool. An officer dove into the pool to rescue the child and officers performed CPR while paramedics were called.
She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“We were really shocked and in a lot of pain after figuring out what happened,” said a neighbour.
“It’s horrifying. Everyone, if you have kids, you know,” said a woman who only gave her name as Amanda. She explained that the home where the tragedy occurred was hosting her daughter’s fifth birthday party and that it was her godsister who died.
“A birthday turned horribly wrong and its something we have to live with.”
Neighbours say it was a big birthday party with “a lot of kids” and even included horses and a pony.
Amanda says there were only 19 people, including the nine residents who live in the home.
Under the current provincial guidelines, outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people.
Amanda explained that the additional people were from the neighbourhood who came out to look for the girl, who was initially presumed to be missing.
“I know by the time [police] got here it looked bad but we were honestly here searching outside because we thought it was a missing situation – not a pool situation.”
Police would not say if any charge would be laid, adding the investigation is ongoing.
