Child at summer camp dies after being hit by falling tree branch in Wayland, Massachusetts
An 8-year-old boy from Sudbury has died after he was hit by a large tree branch at YMCA Camp Chickami in Wayland, Massachusetts.
The boy, who has not been identified, was at the children's day camp off Route 20 Tuesday morning when a large tree fell, causing a domino effect as it knocked down another tree. A large branch hit the child and a smaller branch struck a counselor.
The boy was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he later died, the Wayland police and fire departments said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon.
"We both agree that this is something that's highly unusual," Fire Chief Neil McPherson said at a news conference Tuesday after the incident.
The counselor was treated for minor injuries. The camp is operated by the West Suburban YMCA.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with this young camper and their family. We are providing support services to other campers and staff who were present during this accident, and will keep our camp community fully informed," Jack Fucci, the president and CEO of the YMCA branch, said in a statement Tuesday.
The camp closed Tuesday and remained shut down Wednesday. Fucci said the camp does have an annual tree maintenance plan. He said there will be an investigation into what happened.
"As you can tell, it's a traumatic experience for everybody," Fucci said.
YMCA Camp Chickami is described on its website as a "traditional day camp located on a beautiful, wooded property bordering conservation land."
The 22-acre summer camp was founded in 1955. According to the camp's website, children from 6 to 14 years old attend.
Wayland is located in Middlesex County, about 18 miles west of Boston.
