Overview
- Medicine Hat police were called about a missing child on Monday and officers located the 11-year-old in the park’s Swim Lake about an hour later before the child was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.
- Police say a comprehensive investigation is under way and that foul play is not suspected in the suspected drowning.
- The City of Medicine Hat has closed all municipally run pools and Echo Dale Regional Park until further notice to allow a safety review and to provide supports to staff and families.
- Fire, EMS, police and the Halo air ambulance were deployed to search the park during the response, and the city has offered counselling and resources to students, first responders and school staff.
- Schools and local officials described the loss as a profound shock and have adjusted year-end plans while the probe and a municipal review proceed with no reopening date announced.