A young boy suffered life-threatening injuries Tuesday morning after a large tree branch fell on him at YMCA Camp Chickami, a children’s day camp in Wayland, Massachusetts.
The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. at the camp, located on Boston Post Road, also known as Route 20.
Authorities said at a news conference that the boy was struck by a large falling branch and sustained critical injuries. A camp counselor was also hit, by a smaller branch, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.
The injured boy was first transported to Wayland Town Hall, where a MedFlight helicopter was waiting. He was then flown to Massachusetts General Hospital for further treatment.
Officials explained that a large tree came down and triggered a domino effect, knocking over a second nearby tree in the process. Wayland Fire Chief Neil McPherson called the incident “highly unusual.”
YMCA Camp Chickami is operated by the West Suburban YMCA. In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, West Suburban YMCA President and CEO Jack Fucci confirmed that a camper was injured and airlifted to a nearby hospital. He said the organization’s thoughts are with the camper and their family, and that support services are being made available to other campers and staff who witnessed the incident.
Fucci added that the camp maintains an annual tree maintenance plan, and that an investigation into the incident is now underway. The camp was closed for the remainder of Tuesday and will remain closed on Wednesday as well.
“As you can tell, it’s a traumatic experience for everybody,” Fucci said.
A local resident, whose child previously attended the camp, said she heard sirens and emergency vehicles arriving in the area. She described seeing more than seven police cars, along with fire trucks and ambulances, respond to the scene.
According to its website, YMCA Camp Chickami is a traditional day camp set on a wooded property bordering conservation land. The camp, founded in 1955, serves children between the ages of 6 and 14.
Wayland is located in Middlesex County, roughly 18 miles west of Boston.