Baby saved from landslide ordeal

A woman's baby nearly died after a being buried in a landslide when a sand cliff collapsed outside a provincial park near Weyburn, Sask., this weekend.

Danielle Johnston and her 10-month-old daughter, Kate, were walking along the shoreline of the Rafferty Reservoir just outside Mainprize Regional Park when a sand cliff suddenly gave way.

The resulting landslide slammed into Johnston's back, sending the baby flying, the mother said.

'We got her uncovered and then I put my arm underneath her. I picked her up and got the sand and debris out of her mouth and I gave her CPR' —Danielle Johnston

"The force of the sand cliff falling knocked her out of my hands — she got completely engulfed," Johnston said.

She began calling frantically for help, and her cousin and two nearby fishermen responded.

One of the fishermen, Jeff Adams, was the person who found the baby. She wasn't breathing.

"I spotted the crown of this head and I was just surprised at first at just how small a person we were looking for," Adams said.

Over the next few moments, Johnston and the men worked desperately to resuscitate Kate.

"We got her uncovered and then I put my arm underneath her. I picked her up and got the sand and debris out of her mouth and I gave her CPR," Johnston said.

"She coughed a bit of sand out and she started to cry. And that sound was just such a relief."

The little girl was cleared by doctors and is recovering at home, Johnston said.

Park officials said the sand cliffs have been destabilized because of the large amount of rain lately.

They are asking people walking near them to be cautious.