CBC News
TORONTO — A 12-year-old Toronto girl died Monday of injuries sustained in a weekend fire that claimed her father’s life.
Family and friends of Ken Einboden announced his daughter’s death at a news conference outside Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children early Monday afternoon. They said Britney Einboden had succumbed to her injuries moments earlier.
“Today, God took back one of his angels, Britney. She was a great kid, she worked hard at school,” family friend Richard Leftley said outside of the hospital. “Yesterday, I lost my best friend; today, my daughters lost their best friend.”
Ken Einboden, 44, died Sunday while trying to rescue Britney after taking his five-month-old daughter Kendra outside to safety.
The fire started around 2:45 p.m. in the kitchen of the family’s home at 14 Kemp Square, in the Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue West neighbourhood, and spread to the rest of the house.
Einboden was inside the house with his daughters when the fire broke out. His wife Jackie wasn’t home at the time.
Einboden ran out of the house with Kendra and handed her to a neighbour before running back inside to rescue Britney, who was upstairs, neighbours said.
EMS officers found Einboden and Britney upstairs with no vital signs, said district fire Chief Stephan Powell.
Einboden was pronounced dead at the scene while Britney was revived and taken to the Hospital for Sick Children in critical condition.
“He gave his last breath saving his daughters,” Leftley said through tears.
Leftley described Einboden as a hard-working man who would do anything for his family. He recently lost his job and was helping his wife, who was on maternity leave, care for their two daughters.
The family didn’t have renter’s insurance.
The Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating the fire. There’s no word yet on the cause.
Friends of the family have set up an account at the Royal Bank at Jane Street and MacDonald Avenue. Chequing account number 505 2394.
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