Afternoon of Swimming Takes Unexpected Turn

Rebecka Thompson

Mary Arnold, the godmother, also gave the Pandy Show her account of what transpired. According to Arnold, Rebecka was swept away by rushing waters. She says, after she picked Rebecka up from school on Monday afternoon, they decided to go swim in the shallow parts of the river nearby. What happened next was unexpected, she says.

Mary Arnold

Mary Arnold, Godmother of Deceased

“I said, ok let us go the river for a few minutes. She grabbed her towel and a little duck and we went to the river. This was maybe about four o’clock. We went to the shallow and starting playing and splashing. She didn’t see her duck and wanted to go after it. I said, no just leave it. It is just a toy, come here. Next thing I know, she is in the fast water. We were in still water, water she could stand up in. Then all of a sudden, she was swept away. I realized that she was in fast water and I tried to go after her and kept falling. So, I knew I had to get some help, because I was not going to be able to get her.”

Arnold says she left the river to get help. When help arrived, Rebecka had already gone under. She was removed from the river with the help of some nearby resident.