Boy, 5, Dies in Front of His Parents After Being Struck by Falling Rock While Climbing with a Friend

A 5-year-old boy was killed by a falling boulder during a family visit to a beach in California.

The boy had been climbing rocks with his best friend at Rincon Beach in Ventura when he “slipped” on a boulder and fell, “causing another boulder to fall on top of him,” at around 6:40 p.m. local time on Aug. 31, the Ventura County Star reported, citing the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

He hit his head in the fall and was sent to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in critical condition, where he later died, according to the outlet.

A GoFundMe page identified the boy as Maxwell. The tragic incident “unfold[ed] in front of his parents and friends’ eyes,” family friend Bryan Holloway wrote on the page.

Maxwell’s parents were avid campers and often explored with their son new places around Southern California, Holloway said.

“Some of their fondest family memories were made camping and exploring the Californian beaches, deserts, and mountains,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page. “They spent most of their time camping and exploring new places around Southern California, including their favorite, Ricardo campground.”

Maxwell was described as having an “energetic spirit” who “lived and experienced more in his short 5 years of life then most children get in their lifetime.”

“He got to live a life of adventure and exploring while building some of the fondest memories with his mom, dad, friends, and family,” wrote Holloway on GoFundMe. “Max will be immensely missed by all who knew him. He … brought so much joy to not only his parents’ lives, but some of his closest friends and family’s lives.”

The fundraiser has so far raised $55,000 in donations towards the funeral for Maxwell and grievance therapy costs, with a goal of $60,000.

A 5-year-old boy was killed by a falling boulder during a family visit to a beach in California.

The boy had been climbing rocks with his best friend at Rincon Beach in Ventura when he “slipped” on a boulder and fell, “causing another boulder to fall on top of him,” at around 6:40 p.m. local time on Aug. 31, the Ventura County Star reported, citing the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

He hit his head in the fall and was sent to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in critical condition, where he later died, according to the outlet.

A GoFundMe page identified the boy as Maxwell. The tragic incident “unfold[ed] in front of his parents and friends’ eyes,” family friend Bryan Holloway wrote on the page.

Maxwell’s parents were avid campers and often explored with their son new places around Southern California, Holloway said.

“Some of their fondest family memories were made camping and exploring the Californian beaches, deserts, and mountains,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page. “They spent most of their time camping and exploring new places around Southern California, including their favorite, Ricardo campground.”

Maxwell was described as having an “energetic spirit” who “lived and experienced more in his short 5 years of life then most children get in their lifetime.”

“He got to live a life of adventure and exploring while building some of the fondest memories with his mom, dad, friends, and family,” wrote Holloway on GoFundMe. “Max will be immensely missed by all who knew him. He … brought so much joy to not only his parents’ lives, but some of his closest friends and family’s lives.”

The fundraiser has so far raised $55,000 in donations towards the funeral for Maxwell and grievance therapy costs, with a goal of $60,000.