A 14-year-old Boy Scout has died at summer camp after a tree fell on his tent during a sudden storm.
The Scout, who was from Cypress, Texas, died on Monday afternoon at Bert Adams Scout Camp in Newton County, Georgia, about 45 miles southwest of Atlanta.
The deceased child has not yet been publicly identified pending notification of family members.
‘This is a very difficult time for our Scouting family,’ said Tracy Techau, CEO of Boy Scouts of America Atlanta Area Council, in a statement.
A 14-year-old Boy Scout died on Monday at Bert Adams Scout Camp (above) in Georgia
‘We are sad to confirm the death of one of our Scouts following a weather-related incident at Bert Adams Scout Camp.
‘We offer our deepest condolences to the victim and his family, and we will support them in any way that we can. Please join us in keeping all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.’
The severe thunderstorm descended on the camp suddenly at around 4pm, according to WSB-TV.
The victim and his tent-mate rushed back to their tent to take shelter from the storm.
The camp (above) is 1,300 acres and offers swimming, archery, rifle and shotgun ranges, a climbing tower and skills and nature classes
Boy Scout camp tents are typically canvas tents on a raised wooden platform that holds two cots.
Both boys were in the tent when the tree fell, killing one of them, officials said.
The camp is 1,300 acres and offers swimming, archery, rifle and shotgun ranges, a climbing tower and skills and nature classes.
The summer camp, which included Scout troops from across the southeast, was in the final of its four weeks when the tragedy occurred.
Officials declined to say how or whether the camp’s schedule for the rest of the week would be altered because of the death.
The deceased boy’s family planned to travel to Georgia on Tuesday to retrieve his remains.