Neighbourhood to hold vigil to honour life of teen who drowned in pond
After her neighbourhood was consumed by grief when a 14-year-old girl died after becoming trapped in a drainage pond, a Lago Lindo resident is bringing her community together with a vigil to celebrate the “light” that was the girl’s life.
“It’s about support,” Shvonne Muench said Thursday. “You don’t have to know each other, you just have to be human.”
Krystyna Maksymova was walking a neighbour’s dog with her younger sister beside a drainage pond near 82 Street and Chrystallina Nera Way (180 Avenue) on Saturday when the dog ran off, chasing some geese into the pond.
When Krystyna went into the pond to rescue the dog, Muench said the girl became overwhelmed by thick mud on the bottom.
Muench said she arrived just after an ambulance, and said another neighbour tried to pull the girl out of the pond, but he, too, was overwhelmed by the muddy bottom.
“It was a matter of 10 minutes, and it seemed like an eternity,” Muench said, adding, “I was just hoping she was going to gasp for air. You pray a miracle is going to take place.”
Krystyna died the following day in hospital. The dog survived.
Muench said neighbours who knew the family or saw the tragedy have been visiting the spot by the pond where the girl was trapped as a way to pay their respects.
“It’s very gloomy, it’s very heavy,” said Muench.
Rather than focus on her death, Muench is hoping a Light the Night vigil Sunday will help the community heal.
They will be releasing floating lanterns into the pond to remind those who knew Krystyna about the light she brought to others.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Muench said.
She said all are welcome to attend the vigil and is extending a special invitation to the first responders who tried to save the girl’s life, so the community can share their gratitude for their efforts.
One neighbour has moved a bench to the spot where Krystyna went into the pond, but Muench is hoping to raise funds to install a memorial bench permanently at the site, as well as gather donations to support the Maksymova family.
The vigil will be held at the pond near Crystallina Nera Way starting at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.