Port Alberni RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy.
Police said they received a call about a child in medical distress about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
“The child was transported to hospital and, tragically, did not survive,” said Port Alberni RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Amelia Hayden.
The RCMP and B.C. Coroners Service are investigating.
No further information was available Wednesday.
Family friend Miranda Mack said the news was “really hard to hear.”
“He was such a happy little boy,” she told CHEK News.
“I’d see him playing around with all the other kids. He played with my daughter a lot. It’s just heartbreaking to know that he’s not here.”
Haahuupayak Elementary School will be closed for the rest of the week out of respect for the child’s family.
Principal Wayne Peterson said the student was part of the Haahuupayak family.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family in their time of need,” he wrote in a notice.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council described the boy, who has family connections to the Ahousaht and Hesquiaht First Nation communities, as having “a big, beautiful smile.”
“The Nuu-chah-nulth shares in the sorrow of his passing and extend our sincere condolences to the parents, family, friends and community members during this heartbreaking time of loss,” the statement said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan said the community has been shaken by the incident.
“It’s tragic,” Ruttan told CHEK News.
“It’s something that no parent wants to go through.
“It has a huge impact on the boy’s class, at his school, on the community. … As a community, our thoughts go out to the family.”
