A 12-year-old boy, Damilola Khalid Afolabi, has d!ed after he jumped into Mahogany Lake in southeast Calgary, Canada.
He had been playing basketball before he jumped into the lake on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
Damilola was laid to rest on Wednesday, May 6.
Calgary Fire Department (CFD) crews were called to the community lake around 7:20 p.m. on Sunday after reports that a child had jumped from a dock and failed to resurface.
CFD public information officer Alex Kwan said they had been playing basketball shortly before entering the water.
Rescue teams arrived to find poor visibility and cold temperatures hampering the search.
It took crews nearly 45 minutes to locate the child, who was eventually found more than six metres below the surface.
Firefighters pulled them from the water and transferred them to an ambulance.
“Our rescuers were able to pull the child out of the water from a depth of about 6 meters, into a waiting ambulance,” Kwan said, noting the patient was transported in critical and life‑threatening condition.
Damilola’s father, Jubreel Babatunde Afolabi, had to be consoled throughout the funeral service as he recounted the family’s recent move from Ghana in March 2026.
It was a move he said his son had embraced with optimism.
“When we were about to leave Ghana, Dami said, ‘Thank you for the good life you are going to give us in Canada’. I didn’t know that my son would never be with me at this moment.”
“He was a great child to me,” his father said. “The meaning of Dami is that you are bringing the joy and happiness… but today he’s no more with.”
“I never prayed that I would be the one to bury my son. I wish Dami was the one to bury me, but not the other way around.”
Those close to the family are now raising funds to support them as they navigate their loss so soon after arriving in Canada.
Family spokesperson Patrick Adda described Damilola as a boy who loved people and made friends easily.
“He loved to make friends, he loved people… he’s so friendly and that’s what he likes to do,” Adda said.
Community members are now calling for reforms to private lakes, including higher minimum age requirements, to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Mahogany Lake Association says they were deeply saddened over the child’s d3ath.
“Our hearts are with the child’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. On behalf of our organization, I extend our sincere condolences as we hold the child and their family in our thoughts,” a notice reads.
“Out of respect for the family and the ongoing efforts by emergency services and authorities, the Mahogany HOA will not provide further comment at this time. We are supporting the appropriate processes and allowing space for the family to grieve.
“We appreciate the compassion shown by the Mahogany community and the public, and our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragic loss.”
Residents who live in the area say the incident has left the community shaken.
“I feel for the family and all the families that are gonna go through this over the summer. It’s heartbreaking, I dunno how you get through it,” one resident said.
Another resident expressed concerns about safety at the lake.
“We only signed a paper where you say that you’re responsible, but when you are there? No more, nobody helps you,” they said.
