The tragic incident involving a four-year-old girl who was fatally injured when an adult fell on top of her while skiing at a cross-country trail near Gatineau, Quebec, last week has resulted in her passing, as confirmed by authorities on Monday.
The girl sustained injuries on February 22 while being pulled in a sled by an adult at Nakkertok in Val-des-Monts, a popular private cross-country ski club in the area. The accident occurred while they were descending a hill, according to the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais police.
Upon police arrival, paramedics and firefighters were engaged in CPR before the girl was transported to the Ottawa children’s hospital CHEO. Local authorities disclosed that the Ontario coroner’s office is conducting an investigation into the incident, reiterating their belief that it was accidental.
Tragically, this incident follows a similar sorrowful event that took place around two weeks earlier, where a 13-year-old girl lost her life after an accident involving a chairlift at a nearby ski resort.
In the aftermath of the incident, it was revealed that rescuers faced challenges as the fire department’s ATV lacked winter treads and became stuck in the snow, necessitating a manual transport of the girl through the woods. This situation prompted discussions on enhancing winter rescue preparedness, potentially including acquiring snowmobiles for future emergencies.
The Val-des-Monts firefighters’ union highlighted the importance of adequate winter equipment, emphasizing the need for proper training and readiness for remote rescues. They mentioned that recent training had focused on water and ice rescues due to regional requirements, but the department is now considering reassessing its protocols to better handle winter emergencies.
Overall, the community is deeply saddened by the loss of the young girl and is reflecting on ways to improve emergency response capabilities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.