MIAMI – Family members are speaking out after a 3-year-old girl drowned in a lake at Amelia Earhart Park north of Hialeah last weekend, providing new details.

They said she was a special needs child and was at the park with her godmother for another child’s birthday party when she went off to follow some ducks.

Relatives told CBS News Miami they were heartbroken and showed new photos of Malaysia Dantzler.

“Malaysia was my first grandchild and she meant everything to me. Words cannot express what Malaysia meant. She was my everything. She was everything to me,” said the child’s grandmother, Latoya Williams.

“Malaysia was a unique child. She was full of life. She was very enterprising and she was her own individual and the light of the family. You never think you have to answer what a three-year-old child means to the family. You don’t expect to lose a three-year-old child,” said Nigil Wright, the child’s uncle.

“What’s important is what she meant to her parents,” he said. “She was their life and their joy and everything.”

Miami-Dade police said the incident occurred just before 4 p.m. Saturday. The person caring for the child reported her disappearance to park rangers, and the child was discovered in a lake. Resuscitation attempts were made and the child was taken to Palmetto General Hospital, where she died.

Wright said Malaysia was with her godmother, adding: “Malaysia was not with a stranger. She was with someone the parents trusted to be with her. Malaysia had special needs and we believe she saw some ducks and followed them. Unfortunately, she was not properly supervised and she followed some ducks.”

“The important message is about water safety and it is important to teach infants and young children how to swim and survive. We also need to help children with special needs navigate the water and we need to keep an eye on our children.”

Wright said there would be a special ceremony for Malaysia at the park on Wednesday evening at 6pm, during which a “bubble will be released”.

Wright said the family is trying to raise money for the child’s funeral expenses through a fundraising website.

Miami-Dade police said they would not file criminal charges.