Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are advising parents in the Quadeville, Ont., area to keep their young children indoors or closely watched on Wednesday, following an incident where a young girl was discovered with serious injuries that are now thought to be the result of an animal attack.
Emergency services were alerted around 12:30 a. m. Tuesday after reports emerged that an eight-year-old girl, who had been missing for several hours, was located with potentially life-threatening injuries in a wooded area of Quadeville, which is situated about 60 kilometres southwest of Renfrew.
Details regarding the girl’s injuries remain limited; however, OPP stated in a message on Wednesday morning that “investigators suspect this to have been an animal attack.” They cautioned that “further testing and analysis is required.”
The police continued: “As a precaution, parents in the Quadeville area should continue to keep their small children indoors or under close supervision.”
Officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment are investigating the case alongside the Ministry of Natural Resources, directed by the OPP criminal investigation branch, with help from OPP forensic identification services and the OPP emergency response team.
A section of woods near the intersection of Quadeville and Letterkenny roads remained cordoned off with police tape on Wednesday. Both OPP and representatives from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources were present at the scene on Wednesday morning.
Bill Dickson, spokesperson for OPP, mentioned that it’s still unclear if an animal indeed caused the injuries and refrained from disclosing any suspected species.
“Until test results come back-there will even be some DNA testing done to try and determine what kind of animal it was-we can’t speculate,” he told CBC on Wednesday.
The investigators haven’t managed to gather clear information from the victim as well.
“We have had some initial discussions or some initial contact with the child, but at this point we’re focusing on other aspects.”
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Joseph Fiorentino, pastor of Quadeville Pentecostal Church, said it’s not known what caused the injuries. (Sannah Choi/CBC)
Around fifty local residents participated in searching for the young girl Monday evening after she went missing, according to Fiorentino.
The girl was located in a forested area behind homes along Quadeville Road; assistance was requested from Brudenell Lyndoch and Raglan Fire Department by OPP during her search.
OPP officers secured the vicinity leaving residents wondering about what may have happened there; Fiorentino noted: “We know nothing about her state or condition at the time she was found.”
The injured girl was first taken to St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay based on Fiorentino’s account.
Latterly she was airlifted to a children’s hospital in Ottawa; Ornge ambulance service confirmed they “transported a paediatric patient to CHEO with critical injuries relating to an animal attack.”
The girl is reportedly stable now while being treated in intensive care; Fiorentino mentioned that doctors indicated it was “a miracle she was alive.”
The local fire department announced via social media on Tuesday that due to recent events happening in Quadeville they would not take part in local Canada Day celebrations-including a fireworks display scheduled for Saturday.
“Out of respect for the family, community & our firefighters’ mental health, we hope you understand,” wrote the fire department.
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Lack of answers
Joseph Fiorentino, pastor of Quadeville Pentecostal Church, stated that this incident has unsettled their small community of around 300 residents. “The community is frightened for their own young children because of the ambiguity and mysteries involved,” Fiorentino told CBC on Wednesday. Fiorentino expressed his own uncertainty regarding what led to the girl’s injuries. “There’s just no answers right now,” he said.Source link
