A 5-year-old boy was killed after a boulder fell on him during a family outing to a California beach.
The child, identified as Maxwell, had been climbing rocks with his best friend at Rincon Beach in Ventura when he slipped on a boulder, causing another one to fall on him around 6:40 p.m. on Aug. 31, the Ventura County Star reported, citing the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
He hit his head in the fall and was rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in critical condition, where he later died, according to the outlet.
A GoFundMe page confirmed the boy’s identity as Maxwell. Family friend Bryan Holloway wrote that the tragedy unfolded in front of his parents and friends.
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Maxwell’s parents were avid campers and loved exploring new places with him across Southern California, Holloway shared. “Some of their fondest family memories were made camping and exploring the Californian beaches, deserts, and mountains,” he wrote. Their favorite spot was Ricardo Campground.
Holloway described Maxwell as a boy with an “energetic spirit” who “lived and experienced more in his short 5 years of life than most children get in their lifetime.”
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“He got to live a life of adventure and exploring while building some of the fondest memories with his mom, dad, friends, and family,” Holloway wrote. “Max will be immensely missed by all who knew him. He brought so much joy to not only his parents’ lives, but also to his closest friends and family.”
The fundraiser has raised more than $55,000 so far to help cover funeral expenses and grief counseling, with a goal of $60,000.
