Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, November 8, 2016
(WOLFE COUNTY, Ky.) - An 11-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a falling tree while camping in the Red River Gorge.
WDRB's Josh Breslow says that according to Wolfe County Search and Rescue, the boy was camping Saturday night near Chimney Top Rock with his Boy Scout Troop from Louisville and his father when a dead tree about 18 inches in diameter fell and landed on the child's tent with him inside. He was hit in the head.
A pair of doctors was camping nearby and tried to revive the boy but he was killed on impact.
The Wolfe County Coroner has identified the child as 11-year-old Jack A. Rose.
"It was maybe an 18-inch diameter tree and it was just rotten at the base. It fell and went through the tent," said John May, with the Wolfe County Search and Rescue. "This is the first juvenile we really had to deal with like that so especially when you have children of our own, it's just heart-wrenching."
May says Rose was one of more than 20 scouts on that trip in the Gorge. The scouts had just finished dinner and some had gone to bed, including Jack, who May said was alone in his tent when the three came down.
Rose was with Troop 30, located in The Temple on Highway 42 in Louisville.
JCPS officials say Rose was a student at Noe Middle School.
Deputy Scout Executive Clint Scharff released the following statement from Boy Scouts of America:
"This is a very difficult time for our Scouting family. We are extremely saddened to confirm that during a local troop camping activity, a falling tree resulted in the death of one of our youth members. Immediately following the incident, troop leaders & two medical professionals on site attempted to revive the youth and troop leadership contacted the Wolfe County Search and Rescue teams for support. No other youth members or adult volunteers were harmed as a result of this tragic accident."
"The safety and well-being of our participants is our top priority. We will do all we can to support the family of this young man. We are also mindful of the Scouts and volunteers present on the outing and the impact the incident had on them, and will be offering grief counseling to our members and volunteers. Please join us in keeping these families in your thoughts and prayers."
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.