Fundraisers started for Maine family of 2 boys who fell in river
The brothers, 9 and 5, fell in the Androscoggin River last week, and the younger boy remains missing.
Relatives of the two boys who fell in a Maine river last week, one of whom is still missing, have started two fundraisers to support the family, the Sun Journal reports.
Authorities said the two brothers, who have only been identified as being 9 and 5 years old, were playing near the Androscoggin River in Auburn on Wednesday evening when the younger boy fell in the water. The older boy, attempting to help his brother, also fell in the water.
Police said the children’s father and 8-year-old sister tried to pull the boys out of the water, but were unable to rescue them. First responders pulled the 9-year-old from the river in critical condition, but the younger boy remained missing as of Tuesday morning.
Auburn police said on Friday morning that search operations on the river had been concluded and the 9-year-old was in stable condition.
Police confirmed to the Journal that both fundraisers have been approved by the family and are legitimate.
The newspaper reports the GoFundMe page was started by a sister-in-law of the boys’ mother, while a YouCaring fundraising page was started by the brother of the boys’ father.
As of Tuesday morning each page had raised more than $2,000 with the aim of assisting the family with medical costs for the older boy and expected burial expenses for the younger son.
