Virginia Boy Killed When Winds Blow Tree Into House

CHESTERFIELD, VA — A 6-year-old Virginia boy was killed Friday when nor-easter winds sent a tree crashing into his family's mobile home. Not only did Anthony Hamilton's parents lose their young son in the freak accident, the family has also been displaced from their home by the storm damage. An online fundraiser has been established to help the Hamilton family pay funeral expenses.

The accident happened about 2 a.m. Friday as winds howled over Virginia; the Richmond area was under a wind advisory at the time. Wind gusts measurements released by the National Weather Service showed that Madison County recorded a wind speed of 78 mph, the strongest blast in the state on March 2.

A family member said that a tree pinned Anthony for 45 minutes before he was freed by rescuers. News reports say that the boy was sleeping on the top bunk when he was trapped in his bed; his mother was able to get her other children out of the house but try as she might, she couldn't free Anthony from the tree. (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Firefighters had to brace the tree with wood blocks before cutting apart Anthony's bed to get him to an ambulance, according to a Chesterfield Fire and EMS spokesperson. Anthony did not have a pulse when he was freed, Chesterfield Police Lt. Brad Conner told WTVR, but he regained a pulse en route to the hospital. The boy died later in the day at an area hospital.

"A bright light was extinguished tragically today," the family wrote on the GoFundMe website.

SEE ALSO: Top NoVa, DC Wind Gusts Town By Town For March 2 2018

Anthony's grandmother, Dawn Summerfield called her grandson selfless, bright, and a shining light.

“He’s your typical six-year old he loves race cars, minions, anything to do with video games," Summerfield told WTVR. "He’s got the biggest heart of any six-year-old you’ll ever meet."

Family members established an online fundraiser to help pay for Anthony's funeral and help his family with housing expenses.

"No one expects to have to bury their 6-year-old child," the online appeal said. "Any and all donations will be thoroughly appreciated and used for main purpose-Anthony's send off into heaven."

Contribution's to the family's funeral fund can be donated on the For Anthony Hamilton and Family page on GoFundMe.

Photo of Anthony Hamilton courtesy of GoFundMe