Family demands answers after girl dies days following sledding accident

A Manitoba family wants to know why their nine-year-old child died days after they say she broke her arm in a sledding accident. Jeff Keele reports.

Nine-year-old Mary Jonette Miley Bull-Sinclair’s family says she broke her arm sledding and died five days later. Now her uncle, Burton Flett, says they want answers about her death.

“Never did we think this activity would end in tragedy,” said Flett.

From Manitoba’s O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, Mary’s family says that on March 16, she broke her arm in a tobogganing accident — and it sounded serious.

“An ambulance came to get her. The paramedics told Mary’s mom to get ready for a potential trip to Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg,” said Flett.

Instead, they say she was taken to Dauphin’s regional hospital, where her arm was put in a sling — not a cast — and she was sent home. The pain was so bad, they say, that Mary had to sleep sitting up. The family says a couple of days later, she returned to the hospital, only to be sent home again with Tylenol and Advil.

“She stayed home in pain,” said Flett. “Mary and her mother, Cerina, cried together.”

‘Cried out for help’

On March 21, they say Mary’s chest appeared discoloured and she was sleeping on her broken arm, so her mom checked on her.

“This is when she cried out for help as she noticed Mary’s fingers were turning purple and fluid was coming out of her mouth and her nose,” said Flett.

An ambulance was called, but it was too late. The family says they are speaking out to get answers about her treatment. They held a news conference in Winnipeg alongside Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels.

“Many First Nations families continue to report experiences where they feel their concerns have been minimized, dismissed,” said Daniels.

In a statement to CTV News, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says the medical examiner is conducting an in-depth autopsy, and the RCMP is also investigating the circumstances around Mary’s death.

‘A tragedy’

Asagwara added that the children’s advocate also has the ability to investigate. The minister said that out of respect for these investigations, it would be inappropriate to comment on the specific circumstances of Mary’s care.

“The death of a child is a tragedy, and we understand why Mary’s family is seeking answers,” said Asagwara.

Prairie Mountain Health Region says it does not provide comments related to any client or patient’s personal health information or care.