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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A peaceful evening dip in the cool waters of Long Lake took a terrifying turn when a young girl needed resuscitation after nearly drowning Tuesday.

A near drowning at Long Lake Beach off Fred Henne Park on Tuesday has at least one person calling for lifeguards to return to the popular beach. - Sara Wilson/NNSL photo

Multiple witnesses said an unresponsive young girl between the ages of five and seven was carried out of the water by a man yelling for help around 6:50 p.m. A large group of beach-goers crowded around the child while an off-duty nurse and one volunteer performed CPR compressions for three to four minutes, the witnesses said.

One witness, who didn't want to be named, described the events as "very sobering."

According to the source, emergency responders arrived at 7:09 p.m., approximately 20 minutes after the emergency call was made.

The child, who eventually regained consciousness and began crying, was carried off by stretcher and transported by ambulance to Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Up to 150 people were at the beach at the time.

"I can advise that EMS were already on scene when police arrived," RCMP Const. Kathy Law stated in an e-mail. "After speaking with witnesses it was determined that it was not suspicious in nature. The youth and mother were transported to hospital."

The near tragic turn of events has reignited calls to staff the beaches with lifeguards.

"How may accidents does it take? One or three?" said Jenine Gilbertson, a Yellowknife resident who was enjoying time with her two children at Long Lake Beach on Wednesday afternoon. "I don't know if (any amount of) money can compare to the life of a six year old."

Currently, territorial beaches and parks, which are all unsupervised, fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of Northwest Territories' Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

But there are "no plans to begin lifeguard services at any of the beaches," according to Alayna Ward, manager of public affairs and communication for the department.

Ward said the responsibility ultimately lies with those using the beach.

"Parents and beach goers are expected to watch their children," she said.

"We had an agreement with the City of Yellowknife basically to share the cost of lifeguards ... the city had the skill and expertise to train lifeguards," Ward said. "(In 2003) they were unable to staff that position, and they haven't been staffed since 2003."

According to the city's website, Ruth Inch Memorial Pool has a pool manager, 10 casual lifeguards, two casual pool attendants, four full-time lifeguard/instructors, eight part-time lifeguards, and five part-time pool assistants.

While the city employs more than 20 lifeguards, existing training certification programs differ for lifeguards that manage recreational pools than those patrolling the beaches, which require an additional on-site training component, according to the Lifeguard Society of Canada.

"Pool certification can be used with additional training from the Canadian Lifesaving Society," said Barb Kusyanto, chief administrative officer of the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and the NWT - a national agency that certifies lifeguards.

"Should ITI decide to fund (training) they would have a pool of lifeguards to choose from," Mayor Gord Van Tighem said.

Back in 2003, the now renamed GNWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development paid approximately $23,000 for lifeguards at Long Lake Beach.

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