Portland, Ore. (KOIN) — Bonnie Hoefle and Doretta Altree use just a few words to describe Pawku Wa, a 10-year-old girl who tragically lost her life at Kelley Point Park in Portland. “She was a very sweet, happy girl,” said Bonnie. “She was there one minute and the next minute she had disappeared and they couldn’t find her for 40 minutes I believe.”
When crews recovered her body it was too late.
Family friends said Pawku’s family were refugees from Burma and had moved to the U.S. in 2010.
In that time the fourth grader had learned English. She also played an important rule to her 4 other siblings.
Doretta Altree said, “She was also like a second momma because there was a baby. She helped out her mom a lot and she kind of took control, she did some of the cooking and made sure the baby was taken care of.”
While it’s unknown exactly what happened, her family believes Pawku fell off a ledge in the river — an underwater ledge that extends from the shoreline out. In some case 50 feet in other cases 150 feet from the shoreline.
And less than 2 weeks ago, a similar story. A 21-year-old man drowns in the same area.
It’s these drownings that forced Portland Parks and Rec to close Kelley Point Park. Parks Director Mike Abbaté said, “That ledge moves, because the river is always moving material so that’s why years ago we said this is not a safe play for swimmers.”
Abbaté said they plan on adding more warning signs to the park, letting people know swimming is not allowed. But he agrees this is only a short term solution. He said he will work with agencies to find a long term solution that could benefit visitors to the park.
But unfortunately for this family it was a lesson learned the hard way.
Bonnie said, “If you’ve never lost a child, you probably just can’t understand it, but it was just horrible.”
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