Girl, 3, drowns in river on northern reserve

People on a northern Manitoba reserve are mourning the loss of a three-year-old girl who drowned Friday night.

Elaine Muswagon, who lives on Cross Lake First Nation told CBC News her husband, Thomas, went outside at about 6 p.m. to water his garden, when he heard a strange noise coming form theNelson River along his property.

That's when he saw two three-year-old girls were in trouble in the water. One was gasping for air, the other was just floating.

Thomas, who is in remission after being diagnosed with throat cancer, leapt into the water and pulled out the girl who was fighting for air.

He ran with her in his arms and brought her up to the house, Elaine said, adding that she wrapped the child in a blanket.

Thomas told his son-in-law, Gordon Beardy, that there was another little girl out further in the water. Beardy swam in after her and pulled her to shore.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene at about 6:30 p.m. and took the girls to the hospital for treatment. One of the girls was pronounced dead. The other was taken to the Children's Hospital in Winnipeg. A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said she has now been released.

"As any mother would be she is totally devastated and the community is shaken because of this tragedy, especially the ones who have little ones, because it could happen to anyone," Garrison Settee, the Chief of Cross Lake First Nation told CBC News.

"Our prayers and our support will be with the family and we ask others to pray," he added.

Police have not released any details about how the girls got in the water. The investigation continues.

Drowning prompts warnings

The Lifesaving SocietyCEO Carl Shier said small children need to be kept at arm's reach around water.

"We consider drowning preventable and instances like this, the reality isthese youngsters needed supervision," he said.

"You can't let any youngsters out of reach around water, it's just too dangerous."

Shier said the Society has programs in northern and First Nations communities to teach children safety around water.

"But usually the group that we're teaching ...is older than this," he said.

"They're starting at about 8 years of age. Under that, literally, supervision is needed constantly."