Lucca Romano died Sunday after falling at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. His mother's former co-workers said they're devastated by his death. (Submitted by family)

The tragic death of a Winnipeg-born boy from a fall at Toronto's Pearson International Airport is hitting his mother's former co-workers hard.

News of 15-month-old Lucca Romano's death has shocked staff at the GoodLife Fitness club on Kenaston Boulevard in Winnipeg, where the boy's mother worked as a yoga instructor until about two weeks ago.

"I don't think it has really hit people yet," said Sherri Romas, who worked with Veronica Romano at the gym.

"I do know there are a lot of staff members that have really gotten close with her children," Romas said.

Veronica would often bring Lucca and his four-year-old brother, Massimo, to play at the gym's child-care facility while she taught classes, Romas said.

Lucca died in hospital on Sunday after he wriggled out of Veronica's arms and fell about 15 metres from the upper departures level in Pearson's Terminal One building.

The Romano family just moved from Winnipeg to Burlington, Ont., nine days ago to be closer to family.

At the time of the accident, they were on their way to Argentina to have Lucca baptized, a family friend told CBC News on Monday.

Romas said the gym has begun collecting donations for a trust fund set up for the family through a major bank.

Cash donations can be made in person at any TD Canada Trust branch in Canada for the Romanos, using account no. 6977-6326978.

Cheques, made out to Guillermo Bellido in trust for the Romanos, should be mailed to TD Canada Trust Vista Place, 1631 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2N 1Z4.