Authorities are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy from Priddis, Alberta, who fell into a septic tank April 26. Those of us in the septic industry know it's likely the tank was improperly secured, and the child’s death is another sobering reminder of the importance of septic tank safety practices.

The boy, identified as Aaden Blackburn, was rushed to the Alberta Children’s Hospital via air transport, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

One witness who was working in the area at the time of the incident told the Calgary Sun he joined the effort to save the boy’s life. “We went back to our truck and got hooks and gear and helped get the boy out of there. He wasn’t breathing and the paramedic (on the phone) asked me to start doing chest compressions, so I did that until someone else arrived and we stepped back.”

As of May 3, an online fundraising campaign had raised nearly $37,000 to support Blackburn’s family.

Source: Calgary Sun