Vanier Secondary School student being described as “a real starlet”
The sudden death of 15 year-old Sara Manitoski sometime overnight Tuesday has devastated family and friends.
She was on a team building school trip to Tribune Bay on Hornby Island. It was an overnight excursion but on Wednesday morning the popular and much loved teenager did not wake up.
“Vibrant, happy, fully engaged in the activities, went to bed having had that good day and in the morning friends were not able to wake her and it was clear that she needed assistance. The students and staff immediately started CPR and they were not able to resuscitate her” said Paul Berry, Director of Health and Safety for the Comox Valley School District.
The RCMP investigated but say the file has now been turned over to the BC Coroners Service.
It could weeks or longer to determine the cause of her death, but all indications are she died of natural causes.
“Everything looks like it was a very natural passing however it is in the hands of the coroners service as it should be to find answers for her family” added Berry.
She was seen as a real starlet in many different ways and played on the Vanier Secondary School Rugby team. News of her death spread quickly and tributes to the young woman poured in on social media including our Facebook page.
“She’s involved in the aboriginal community as well but just a real starlet in many many aspects. Great connections and just a wonderful, wonderful young woman” said Berry.
Dean Stoltz
