Whatcom County 6-year-old critically injured by driftwood log at Squalicum Beach
A 6-year-old Whatcom County boy is receiving emergency medical care after being crushed by a log at Squalicum Beach on Wednesday night.
Killian McCartney was playing in a driftwood fort someone had made when one of the logs fell on him, according to a GoFundMe created by a friend of the family. He received CPR for about 20 minutes before first responders were able to restore his pulse.
The Bellingham Fire Department said they took McCartney to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment, and the family friend wrote that the child was then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
McCartney had multiple fractures to his skull, a broken nose and a collapsed lung, according to the GoFundMe account. Surgeons performed brain surgery Thursday morning, and the doctor said the boy had experienced multiple strokes. The friend also wrote that there were signs of necrotic brain tissue.
In an update Friday morning, McCartney’s family said that the boy has been “steady” since Thursday night. They wrote that the neurosurgeon was “happy” with McCartney’s condition, and his brain activity and pupil responses are good.
“He’s a tough kid, and we’re holding out hope that he’ll keep making strides and moving in the right direction,” the family wrote.
The GoFundMe campaign, which was created to help pay for medical treatment and other expenses, had raised more than $10,000 as of Friday morning.