The small community of Mount Airy is coming together to mourn the loss of Mason Kearns, the 13-year-old boy tragically swept away by floodwaters. According to Fox Baltimore, Mason was outside playing near his home at the Watersville Apartments when the rushing water took him into a drainage pipe. Local first responders, despite their prompt efforts, were unable to rescue the child due to the intense water flow and the constricted access path.
Investigators and community members are struggling with questions about whether the tragic event could have been averted. "What comes across my mind first off, is a grate on the pipe would have prevented everything from ever happening," neighbor Chadwick Colson stated, as reported by Fox Baltimore. Doug Alexander, spokesman for the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company, acknowledged that a grate might have made a difference; however, he avoided predicting the outcome, saying, "That's possible. I wouldn't want to speculate on that because I don't know enough about the situation to tell you. Maybe it would've, maybe it wouldn't."
In the wake of the accident, the Kearns family has received widespread support from various quarters of the Mount Airy community and beyond. A candlelight vigil is being organized for Mason at Watkins Park, as shared by WBALTV, where all are welcome to join and offer their condolences tonight at 8 p.m. To assist the family during this difficult time, Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co. has set up a donation collection; its residents can contribute monetary donations and gift cards, though they are not equipped to accept premade food.
For those wishing to contribute financially to support the Kearns family with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe fundraiser has also been set up where people can donate.
