An 11-year-old boy died Thursday after a tree fell on him while he was hiking a trail at a Scouting America, previously known as the Boy Scouts of America, summer camp in Michigan.
The boy, who has not been publicly named but was from River Forest, Illinois, was walking through a wooded trail at the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lake when the tree fell and struck him shortly after 5 p.m., the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office said, per ABC 7 Chicago and WGN-TV.
Emergency crews, including Muskegon County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from the Blue Lake Fire Department, rushed to the scene, according to reports.
“He was just walking down the trail when a tree fell,” Blue Lake Township Fire Chief Joe Knop told WGN-TV. “It was an act of God, and there’s no preventing some of those things. He was in the exact spot where the tree fell. That’s tragedy.”
No other campers or individuals were injured. The boy’s parents were notified of the incident, and camp officials said they are providing support to campers. A source close to the incident told WGN-TV that the family is asking for privacy as they grieve the loss.
The Owasippe Scout Reservation in Michigan is the nation’s oldest continuously operating Scout camp, spanning nearly 4,800 acres.
Scouting America mourned the death in a statement Friday.
“We are heartbroken by the death of our Scout at Owasippe Scout Reservation. Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the Scout’s family, friends, fellow Scouts, and leaders during this incredibly difficult time.”
The organization added it continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of all Scouts and participants.
“The safety and well-being of every young person in our programs is our highest priority. We are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities as they review the circumstances surrounding this incident,” it said.
Knop said the loss has been felt throughout the Michigan community.
“I’ve been contacted by many different Scout leaders. They all know me. They know the effect something like this would have,” he told WGN-TV. “Even though they’re not neighbors, they’re close-knit; it’s a close-knit family of campers.”
“The tragedy is still a tragedy,” Knop continued. “It affects us on the fire department, it affects the other Scouters, and they all feel it.”
The Owasippe Scout Reservation, one of the oldest Scout camps in the country, has hosted generations of campers in western Michigan.
