Community Remembers Boy Killed In Zip Lining Accident With Luminary Lighting
McCANDLESS (KDKA) -- Dozens of neighbors placed luminaries in their front yards in McCandless after sunset Friday in memory of the boy who died earlier this week from his injuries in a backyard zip lining accident.
Rex Smith, 13, was injured Sunday when he and his friends were riding a homemade zip line in a backyard on Ben Franklin Drive.
He was struck in the back of the head when a braking system anchored to the ground came loose.
Smith died from his injuries at Children's Hospital on Tuesday, and six people waiting transplants received his vital organs.
"I think for any parent, this is their worst nightmare," neighbor Harry Butson said. "It was unexpected and very tragic."
Smith would have turned 14 this month.
He attended Ingomar Middle School and loved soccer and baseball.
Another neighbor, Bill Cunningham, said the whole North Hills community was "devastated" by the boy's untimely death.
Rex leaves behind his mom and dad, Connie and Rex, as well as two sisters.
A funeral mass will be celebrated Saturday morning at St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church, where Smith served as an altar boy.
RELATED LINKS:
Teen Boy Injured While Zip Lining, Dies At Hospital (6/10/14)
Community Mourns Boy Killed In Zip Line Accident (6/11/14)
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