‘She was so, so beautiful’: Family remembers 7-year-old who drowned in Calgary pond

Drihanna Matamona, 7, drowned in a storm pond in the Calgary community of Legacy on Sunday, July 12, 2026. (Supplied)

The family of seven-year-old Drihanna Matamona, who drowned in a storm pond in the southeast community of Legacy on Sunday, says they have been left devastated by her loss.

“She was full of life. She was friendly – even though she couldn’t talk,” said her godmother Ninon Ignoumbe.

“We used to talk to her with her talking device.”

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Matamona was autistic and non-verbal.

Her family says her father was the one that found her in the pond.

“He went inside the car just for a short period of time, and Drihanna was a very active girl, and she can run as fast as an adult,” Ignoumbe said.

“Just that few seconds the dad went out … She just left the house.”

Matamona headed towards a playground, only a couple hundred metres from her home.

It’s located next to the storm pond where she drowned.

“When they found out she was missing and the dad rushed to the pond and then, tried his best, went inside the water – even though people were telling him to do not go because it’s deep,” Ignoumbe said.

“So, he had the strength to go inside the pond and take his baby out. The medical team tried their best. We prayed. We hoped for a miracle. But the tragedy happened.”

Matamona is described as young girl who was smart and loved to smile, loved the toys from McDonald’s Happy Meals and also playing with the neighbourhood kids.

“She’s so, so beautiful,” said Matamona’s aunt, Gloria Massengo.

She says that Matamona leaves behind her mom and dad, 10-month-old baby brother and her older sister Ashley, who is 13.

Massengo says while Matamona’s baby brother doesn’t know what’s going on, it’s hard on Ashley.

Massengo says for her sister, Matamona’s mom, the loss of her daughter has been troubling.

“She’s in pain. Only a mother can know that pain that she’s having right now.

“Our main goal is to be around with each other and show each other we’re there for each other.”

Emergency crews were called to the 200 block of Legacy Main Street S.E. after 1 p.m. Sunday for reports a child was submerged in the water.

Officials say Matamona may have been under the water for around 20 minutes.

Despite lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A memorial has taken shape next to the pond in the community.

The family says it is thankful for all those who have lent a helping hand or support – dropping off food, flowers, blankets and supporting them through a GoFundMe campaign.

“We feel empty. We feel empty because when Drihanna is in the house, you know she’s there. She’s a beautiful soul. Very special for us,” said Ignoumbe.

The Lifesaving Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories says Matamona’s death is the seventh reported drowning death this year.

“We actually see a lot of the majority of drowning incidents happen because people were not expecting to be in the water,” said interim managing director Madison Lalonde.

Lalonde says this time last year, the province only had four reported drowning deaths, and a reported total of 11 for all of 2025.

“Children can drown in less than two inches of water. You don’t need that much water for an incident to occur,” she said.

“Drowning does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone. Anyone can drown, but no one should.”

The family is holding a candlelight vigil at the pond Tuesday at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and is inviting the community to participate.

They also plan to hold another vigil at 5 p.m. on Sunday, one week after Matamona’s death.