The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has confirmed it is investigating the death of a girl who fell from a high-rise balcony in the city’s Yaletown neighbourhood on Tuesday afternoon.
Officers were called to a residential building near Nelson Street and Expo Boulevard just after 2:30 p.m.
“We received reports of a child who fell from a high-rise balcony onto a lower-level balcony in a residential building,” media relations officer Constable Tania Visintin said in front of reporters on Wednesday.
First responders tried to save her life, but the child, an eight-year-old girl, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
While it is unclear how the child fell, it is known that the girl’s parents were home at the time.
The VPD’s Major Crime Section is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
“We called in our major crime detectives. They are the most experienced detectives to handle this case,” Visintin said.
“I would not read too much into it. It is just a formality that we have to do. We have to investigate all sudden deaths.”
Visintin says police have not determined if the death was the result of a crime or not.
Police did not say if they have made any arrests yet.
One neighbour tells 1130 NewsRadio that he is baffled by this tragedy and how it could have happened.
“It can be anything, right? It can be an accident. It can be because of the structure [of the building]. I think it’s up to the police to decide what exactly happened, but my condolences to the family, and it’s a huge tragedy,” he said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the VPD.
