INDEX, Wash. — A little boy is facing a long and difficult recovery after a devastating rock climbing accident in Snohomish County.
According to witnesses, 6-year-old Hank Purchase was hiking with his family when a large rock suddenly rolled down an embankment, hitting him in the head.
Hank was badly hurt and had to be flown to Harborview Medical Center.
He is still in critical condition two days after the accident. Additionally, Hank’s father told KIRO 7 his son may have to have part of his skull removed.
He added that his son is truly happy while hiking in the great outdoors.
“He’s seen a lot, and he likes going to new places all the time,” said Brett Purchase. “He’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, and he still loves to be close to his mom and dad.”
Following Sunday’s accident, Hank Purchase suffered a direct hit to the head and immediately lost consciousness.
From there, a groundswell of fellow climbers banded together to save the life of this little adventurer.
Included in that bunch was a retired firefighter, as well as an off-duty trauma nurse.
“I think when something happens to one person, people come together. I’ve seen this with other people’s accidents too,” Brett Purchase noted.
Ahead of numerous expensive surgeries, a family friend set up this GoFundMe page to help in Hank’s recovery.
“Obviously, (family members) are gonna need help, so it’s been awesome seeing everyone step up,” said Saign Charlestein, the organizer of Hank’s GoFundMe page.
Doctors are currently waiting for Hank’s brain swelling to go down before they do surgery.
As gut-wrenching as it’s been to see his little boy so badly hurt, Hank’s father said the response from the community has been downright spectacular.
“They’re coming out for him and showing support for him, and it means the world to us,” he said.
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