An 8-year-old boy from Sudbury, identified as Mason Sundberg, died following a tragic accident when a tree fell at CBS News in Wayland, Massachusetts. Local police and fire departments responded to the camp around 10:40 a.m. on a Tuesday after receiving reports of the incident.
Tragic Accident Claims Life of Young Camper in Wayland
According to Wayland Acting Police Chief Mark Hebert, children and staff were gathered in an open wooded area when a large tree fell and brought down a second tree. Described by officials as a “domino effect,” the falling timber struck multiple people, including young Mason and an adult camp counselor. First responders arrived to find the 8-year-old camper suffering from critical, life-threatening injuries. He was rushed from the scene via MedFlight to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The adult camp counselor was struck by a smaller branch during the incident and sustained minor injuries. Officials confirmed that the hospitalized counselor has since been treated and released.
Family and Community Mourn the Loss of Mason Sundberg
In the wake of the tragedy, Mason’s family shared a heartfelt public statement remembering the 8-year-old as a devoted son, grandson, nephew, and cousin.
Mason left us yesterday, but his kindness, love and smile never will,
his family wrote, via Boston Herald. They described him as a fiercely loyal, loving, and empathetic friend to old friends and new.
The family added that he loved his family more than anything (and his dog River)
and was funny, goofy and crazy in all the right ways.
Loved ones recalled him singing and dancing around the house with a wide smile and a skip in his step.
Mason was a student at a local public school in Sudbury and enjoyed video games, sushi, drawing, running, swimming, skiing, and celebrating holidays with elaborate decorations. Funeral services have not yet been announced.
Community leaders expressed deep sorrow over the accident. Wayland Fire Chief Neil McPherson offered condolences to those affected and encouraged anyone experiencing overwhelming grief or anxiety to seek support. Local authorities and the Sudbury Police Department arranged for grief counselors to be made available to students and staff.
Camp Chickami Closure and Ongoing Investigation
Following the fatal accident, YMCA Camp Chickami was closed for the rest of the week. Founded in 1955, the day camp serves youth ages 6 to 14 and is situated on a wooded property bordering conservation land approximately 20 miles west of Boston.
Jack Fucci, president and CEO of the West Suburban YMCA, released a statement addressing the tragedy. At a press conference, Fucci stated that the organization takes safety precautions every year and maintains an annual tree plan, but noted that investigators still have much to learn about what triggered the collapse.
We have a lot to learn and to see how something like this could have happened,
Fucci said, according to Yahoo News, adding that grief counseling and support resources have been extended to affected camp staff, campers, and their families. An investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the child’s death remains ongoing.
