Late 19-Year-Old Walmart Employee's GoFundMe Surpasses Target With Over 3000 Donations
By Afouda Bamidele on October 24, 2024 at 5:45 PM EDT
New details about the 19-year-old Walmart employee who tragically died over the weekend have emerged thanks to a GoFundMe page.
The Maritime Sikh Society in Halifax, Nova Scotia, identified the deceased as Gursimran Kaur from India. They launched the fundraiser to raise $50,000 for her family; however, they received more than twice the amount from sympathetic donors.
Additionally, the GoFundMe page revealed how the heartbreaking incident unfolded on Saturday, October 19. The late 19-year-old was found dead in a powered-on walk-in oven by her mother, who noticed she had been missing for hours.
The Sikh Community Raises Over $100,000 For The Late Walmart Employee
According to the GoFundMe page, over 3,000 donations were made in Gursimran’s honor. These sympathizers raised $139,836 for the Kaur family less than 24 hours after the fundraiser’s launch.
A note from the Maritime Sikh Society Executive revealed they hit the initial $50,000 target within 10 hours. However, after receiving numerous calls and messages from donors worldwide, they decided to keep the fundraiser open.
As for who the late Walmart employee was and what happened to her over the weekend, the Sikh community shared the emotional details in a lengthy message. “Gursimran Kaur was only 19 years old, a young beautiful girl who came to Canada with big dreams,” they began.
"On Oct 19th, the fateful Saturday night, she was found burned to death in the walk-in oven at Walmart Bakery situated at Mumford Road, Halifax. Gursimran and her mother both worked at Walmart for the last two years," the message revealed.
The Late 19-year-old's Mother Noticed She Was Missing
According to the Sikh Society, Gursimran’s mother became worried after not seeing her daughter for an hour. She tried to locate the 19-year-old, asking around, but other staff brushed her concerns aside, believing the teen was helping a customer.
However, the mom's worries skyrocketed when she could not reach Gursimran’s phone. She “started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day,” so she contacted the onsite admin for help.
Unfortunately, it was too late, as Gursimran’s “charred remains were found inside the walk-in oven in the Bakery after a few hours.” The Sikh community revealed her mom had discovered the gruesome sight, stating:
"Imagine the horror that her mother experienced who herself opened the oven when someone pointed out to it! Police is investigating the case, so we cannot share any more details."
911 Audio Reveals The Late Employee Was Trapped In The Oven
According to a recent report noted by The Blast, the fateful day's 911 call revealed that Gursimranwas trapped in the oven. The audio captured a dispatch officer describing the incident to first responders, noting it was a "technical rescue call."
"Female is locked in an oven in the bakery. Oven is on, unsure if the staff are able to turn it off," the dispatch said. An officer later asked for an update, wondering:
"The person trapped in the [oven] — do we have the powers off for that? Does the staff want to turn the power off? … In case we do make contact."
Unfortunately, by the time officers arrived, Gursimran had died on the scene. Her death sparked a joint investigation with multiple agencies, according to the press release shared by the Halifax Regional Police.
Authorities Described The Investigation As 'Complex'
The Halifax Regional Police revealed they were working with Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service "to determine the cause and manner of death." In a second update, they noted:
"The investigation is complex and involves several partner agencies. An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time."
Authorities also implored the public to respect the teenager's privacy, warning them not to spread speculations on social media. Their plea read: "Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues, and loved ones of the woman."
Walmart Closed Their Doors Following The Incident
Amanda Moss, a spokesperson for Walmart, addressed Gursimran's passing in a statement on Wednesday, October 23. She revealed the store's staff were "heartbroken" by the incident, stating:
"Our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family. Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need."
"As police have stated, this is a very complex matter, and the investigation is ongoing. Our store will be closed until further notice," Moss concluded.
Rest in peace, Gursimran Kaur!
