SASKATOON — Saskatchewan’s health authority has launched an investigation into the death of a Saskatoon woman who was waiting for surgery to fix her broken ankle.

The authority says it will be speaking with Kirsten Hanke’s family as part of a formal internal review.

Hanke’s partner, Morgan Kirby, says the 30-year-old had badly broken her ankle when she tripped and fell while grabbing a package outside their home on Aug. 12.

Kirby says Hanke was scheduled for surgery three days later, but doctors told them they were postponing it because they needed to do another surgery.

He says in the days that followed, Hanke collapsed at home and later died in hospital.

Kirby says the family was told blood clots caused by Kristen’s broken ankle got into her lungs, causing a death he says shouldn’t have happened.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2026.

The Canadian Press