sniffy
Senior Reporter
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toro...on-bin-lived-tough-life-friends-say-1.4969545
Woman who died trapped in Toronto donation bin lived tough life, friends say
Maria Ventura said the woman who died often struggled to find a place to stay at night. Another friend said it's not uncommon for homeless people to search through donation bins to find warm clothes.
A woman who died after being found without vital signs partially inside a Toronto clothing donation bin was remembered by friends as a bubbly person who struggled with homelessness and addiction.
Patricia O'Connell, executive director at Sistering, a west-end charity-run women's shelter not far from where the woman was found dead, confirmed the woman, named Chrystal, had stayed there in the past.
"She was a lovely human being," O'Connell told CBC.
"We're all just devastated. Everyone here knew her."
Two other women who knew Chrystal said she had battled medical and addiction problems but was working to get better. Both suggested she was likely trying to find some warm clothing at the time she was trapped.
Despite living a tough life, Chantal Mattix said, Chrystal, who was in her mid-30s, "was a very bubbly person."
Maria Ventura also remembered Chrystal as a friendly face around Sistering, who was often eager to share a hug. Ventura blinked back tears when discussing Chrystal's tragic death.
"How does somebody die from that? How?"
Emergency crews tried to revive woman
Police and paramedics were called around 1:30 a.m. ET to an apartment tower at 730 Dovercourt Rd., near Bloor Street, after receiving reports that a woman was inside the bin that sits in the building's parking lot.
Paramedics performed CPR but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Toronto EMS said.The circumstances surrounding the incident do not appear suspicious and the death is likely accidental, police told CBC video producer Tony Smyth.
The box on Dovercourt Road was operated by B'nai Brith Canada, which issued a statement late Tuesday morning saying it runs a donation program that provides "lightly used" clothing to people in need.
Woman who died trapped in Toronto donation bin lived tough life, friends say
Maria Ventura said the woman who died often struggled to find a place to stay at night. Another friend said it's not uncommon for homeless people to search through donation bins to find warm clothes.
A woman who died after being found without vital signs partially inside a Toronto clothing donation bin was remembered by friends as a bubbly person who struggled with homelessness and addiction.
Patricia O'Connell, executive director at Sistering, a west-end charity-run women's shelter not far from where the woman was found dead, confirmed the woman, named Chrystal, had stayed there in the past.
"She was a lovely human being," O'Connell told CBC.
"We're all just devastated. Everyone here knew her."
Two other women who knew Chrystal said she had battled medical and addiction problems but was working to get better. Both suggested she was likely trying to find some warm clothing at the time she was trapped.
Despite living a tough life, Chantal Mattix said, Chrystal, who was in her mid-30s, "was a very bubbly person."
Maria Ventura also remembered Chrystal as a friendly face around Sistering, who was often eager to share a hug. Ventura blinked back tears when discussing Chrystal's tragic death.
"How does somebody die from that? How?"
Emergency crews tried to revive woman
Police and paramedics were called around 1:30 a.m. ET to an apartment tower at 730 Dovercourt Rd., near Bloor Street, after receiving reports that a woman was inside the bin that sits in the building's parking lot.
Paramedics performed CPR but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Toronto EMS said.The circumstances surrounding the incident do not appear suspicious and the death is likely accidental, police told CBC video producer Tony Smyth.
The box on Dovercourt Road was operated by B'nai Brith Canada, which issued a statement late Tuesday morning saying it runs a donation program that provides "lightly used" clothing to people in need.