Police closed parts of 9 Ave. S. last night after a three-year-old girl was killed by debris blown from a construction site. Two others, a seven-year-old boy and a male in his late 30s, were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (Brendan Miller, Special to Sun Media)

Falling debris from a construction site killed a three-year-old girl last night, as witnesses watched in horror.

Emergency crews rushed to Centre St. and 9 Ave. S. after a thunderstorm blew metal off a building under construction, falling on passersby below.

"We went down to 9 Ave. just past 8 p.m. as a result of debris blown off a construction site," said EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux.

"This debris hit three pedestrians. A three-year-old female has died as a result."

Brideaux said two others, a seven-year-old boy and a male in his late 30s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospital.

Calgary fire spokeswoman Deb Berguson said the piece of metal fell 30 to 40 metres from an 18-storey building on the north side of 9 Ave.

The top eight storeys of the tower, at 118 9 Ave. S.W., are under construction.

A yellow tarp surrounded by orange pylons was visible at the scene.

Witnesses, including children, watched in horror.

People including Ron Green and Sophie Damlencour, who decided to stay for a drink before walking out of the Fairmont Palliser hotel and barely missing becoming victim to the tragedy, are thankful for their lives.

"It could have been us," Green said.

"We would have come out the front door instead we came out the back door -- we thought we would have a drink before dinner.

"We are very fortunate."

A shaken Dr. Annemarie Riether, a psychiatrist visiting from Atlanta, offered her services to the groups of traumatized witnesses taken to room in the hotel.

"You think about life," she said.

"You are on vacation and think how many days you have on your vacation and you don't think about how long you have in life."

KATIE.SCHNEIDER@SUNMEDIA.CA