A grandmother has died from a drowning – just hours after trying unsuccessfully to rescue her 20-month-old grandson from the same fate.
The B.C. Coroner's Service said it was Warina Nissan, 51, and her grandson Ivan Yousif that were found face down in the pool of a Guildford apartment complex at 10525 150 St. at about 9 p.m. Sunday.
CPR was performed initially by residents and then ambulance paramedics and fire department first responders, but the boy could not be saved. His grandmother remained in critical condition until Monday. She died at noon.
Both victims are thought to have been non-swimmers and were in the water for an extended period before they were found by other building residents who had arrived to use the pool.
RCMP Sgt. Drew Grainger said early indications are the infant fell into the pool and the grandmother followed to save him.
"It's a very tragic event," he said. "They were fully clothed – they weren't there to swim."
Foul play is not suspected. Police are asking any witnesses to call them at 604-599-0502.
It was the first of two serious pool accidents in less than a day.
At about 12 noon on Monday, emergency crews were called to a home in the 9600 block of 129 Street.
A two-year-old girl was pulled from a pool by a homeowner. She was unconscious and was taken to Surrey Memorial Hospital, then to B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver, where she remains in serious condition.
~with files from Kevin Diakiw
Pool safety tips from Health Canada
• Check with your town or city to find out the rules for putting up a fence around your pool.
• Build a fence and a gate that will keep children away from your pool.
• Keep the gate locked at all times.
• Always have an adult watching children in and around the pool.
• Children under the age of three and children who cannot swim must wear a life jacket or personal floatation device.
• Send children to swimming and water safety lessons.
• Make sure lifesaving equipment and a first aid kit are handy.
• Take a course on pool safety, first aid and lifesaving skills (such as CPR).
• Have emergency phone numbers listed at the telephone closest to the pool.
• Make sure toys, garden furniture and tools are not near the pool fence. Children can climb up on these things to get into the pool.
• To learn more about water safety and learn-to-swim programs, please call your local Canadian Red Cross Society, or the local branch office of the Lifesaving Society.