Her Kenyan household is making an attempt to deliver her physique residence after she died whereas dwell streaming in a pool

The household of a 24-year-old private help employee is making an attempt to boost 1000’s of {dollars} to deliver her physique residence to Kenya after she drowned final week whereas dwell streaming herself swimming in a pool in southwestern Ontario.

“You possibly can see what occurred within the video,” stated Alfonce Nyamwaya, an in depth buddy of the sufferer, Hellen Wendy.

“That leaves you traumatized.” 

Wendy had labored an early-morning shift at a long-term care residence in Owen Sound, Ont., final Thursday. It was 2 p.m. when she arrived again at the motel the place she was staying. 

Shortly after, Wendy went for a swim within the motel’s pool whereas recording herself by means of a Fb Reside. 

She had been within the water for about 10 minutes when tragedy struck. A video exhibits her screaming for assist, unable to swim within the deep finish with no one round to rescue her. Lower than a minute later, there’s silence.

“I am not capable of say how I really feel as a result of it is actually laborious,” Nyamwaya informed CBC Toronto. 

“All I can say is that we have misplaced a very beautiful, hard-working, passionate woman.” 

In line with the video, it wasn’t till round 5 p.m. that one other lodge visitor discovered Wendy within the pool and stopped the dwell stream.  Ontario Provincial Police say they have been known as to the scene simply earlier than 5:45 p.m. — virtually 4 hours after Wendy died. 

“A person was faraway from the water and pronounced deceased after life saving measures have been unsuccessful,” based on an OPP launch issued final Friday. 

Police say they have been conscious {that a} video of the incident had surfaced on social media, including that “applicable steps are being taken to have it eliminated.” 

Household wants $50K to repatriate her physique

Wendy got here to Canada from her native Kenya in 2019 and instantly enrolled in faculty to develop into an authorized PSW. 

Wendy had been working at numerous long-term care houses in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas additionally finding out to develop into a nurse. 

“She was somebody who actually wished to serve folks and assist folks,” stated Enock Nyabuto, considered one of her 5 youthful siblings.

Nyabuto stated his sister urged him to return to Canada after arriving there herself. It was by means of her steering that he additionally grew to become an authorized PSW.

“Hellen was like a job mannequin to us,” he stated. “The remainder of the siblings, we seemed as much as her” 

Whereas nonetheless struggling to deal with their loss, Wendy’s household has shifted their efforts to bringing her physique residence to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which comes with a hefty price ticket of $50,000.

That is why Nyabuto helped begin a GoFundMe within the hopes of giving Wendy “an excellent send-off.” 

“Your beneficiant contributions in the direction of this trigger are extremely appreciated as we undergo this excessive circumstance of dropping a cherished one,” the GoFundMe reads. 

As of Wednesday morning, greater than $50,000 had been raised by donors, a lot of whom additionally shared condolences. 

“Wishing you and your loved ones peace and luxury in your grief,” one particular person wrote. 

Although the household is “devastated,” Nyabuto hopes bringing her physique residence will deliver some type of closure. 

By no means swim alone 

Wendy’s household says she knew the essential expertise of swimming, however wasn’t skilled within the water. 

One group says this tragedy is a stark reminder to at all times swim with another person. 

“Even extremely robust swimmers ought to by no means swim alone as a result of one thing can occur unexpectedly,” stated Barbara Byers, a senior analysis officer with the Lifesaving Society. 

She additionally urges inexperienced swimmers to at all times put on a life jacket, including that drowning can occur in a short time as soon as somebody’s head goes underwater. 

“Typically the response is to have a shock, have a puff. While you gasp you open your mouth, and if you open your mouth you tackle water,” Byers stated. 

“All the sudden you are in a really horrifying scenario.”