A 14-year-old boy died after suffering a fireworks injury on July 4, according to his family.

Jacksyn Smith was injured on July 4 while mishandling fireworks. He was flown to a children’s hospital, where he later died.

Jacksyn’s grandmother, Angela Perdew, said he was not using the firework as intended.

“He was holding a firework device that should’ve been on the ground, but he was actually holding it up,” Perdew said.

Wade McCollum, Jacksyn’s uncle, said the loss feels like a “bad dream.”

“To know Jacksyn was to love him. If you were around him, you were laughing, smiling, doing everything,” he said.

Perdew said children should be supervised when around fireworks.

“They’re dangerous. If they don’t know how to use them, they’re dangerous,” she said.

Perdew said July 4 will carry a different meaning going forward.

“Our 4th of July will never be the same. Never,” she said.

A GoFundMe was created to help the Smith family cover Jacksyn’s funeral expenses.