The little boy was playing on the shore before a giant log fell and hit him, causing catastrophic injuries
A 6-year-old boy suffered horrific injuries in a freak accident in Washington on July 8, which eventually killed him days later.
The incident occurred during a family outing to Little Squalicum Beach, while Killian Gonzales was exploring a driftwood fort. Suddenly, one of the large logs broke and fell on him, his family told King5.
Killian was playing at the fort with his sister and babysitter last week when the log hit him in the back of the head and trapped him under a pile of driftwood.
After receiving the call, emergency crews arrived quickly on the scene to try to save the boy’s life. Eventually, Killian was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, where he remained in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for several days.
Physicians monitored Killian closely, waiting for the swelling to subside enough to better assess the extent of his condition. He was treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit over the course of a few days before his family confirmed the tragic news that he had died from his injuries.
The sudden impact of the huge log caused the little boy catastrophic wounds, the family said, with multiple skull fractures as well as significant trauma to the back of his brain.
His mother, Sonja McCartney, told Fox13 that the experience was one of the worst a parent could ever go through.
“It’s really hard to close your eyes and not hope that this is the nightmare that you’re waking up from,” she said.
Killian was kept in hospital for a number of days before he sadly succumbed to his injuries (Image: gofundme)
Family and supporters are now rallying to launch a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical bills. So far, the page has raised $53,000.
“We are trying to help elevate any medical/food/gas expenses that we can. If you are unable to give, that’s absolutely ok, please share! They need all the love and support during this difficult time. Prayers are also very welcome,” the fundraising page said.
An update from Killian’s mother on Monday, July 13, said that her son “loved to adventure outside and all the little creatures he would find there. He was curious about everything and loved to learn.”
“We’re living through unimaginable grief,” McCartney added, “Navigating life without him seems impossible. Thank you to everyone who has donated so we can take time to grieve and figure out how life works now. Thank you for caring about my baby boy.”