Falling tree kills Macon 12-year-old

12-year-old Hunter Sexton of Macon died when a tree fell over on him while he was camping with his family.

The accident happened Saturday around 1 a.m. during a thunderstorm, according to Wilkinson County Coroner, Billy Matthews.

“Him, his father, grandfather, an uncle and a cousin were in Wilkinson County in Toomsboro camping at a hunting reserve,” explained Matthews. “When the storm hit, they went under two pavilion tents. They were all under those, when the 20 to 30 feet of the top of an oak tree fell on the tent.”

According to Matthews, the family was fishing at night and was using a generator to light up the area where they were camping.

“When the tree fell, it knocked out the generator, leaving the men in the dark,” added Matthews. “It knocked the father, uncle and cousin out of the tent.”

The men found Hunter still under the tent.

“He told them his spine hurt,” continued Matthews. “They got him out and put him in a pick-up truck. Hunter was still talking, squeezing his grandfather’s hand.”

It took nearly half an hour to get to the reserve manager’s home.

“At that time, the boy went unresponsive,” he explained. “The sheriff’s office sent an ambulance and paramedics and rescue personnel and they started CPR.”

Hunter was transported to Oconee Regional Hospital in Milledgeville where Matthews pronounced him dead at 2:39.

“I’ll be taking him to the GBI lab on Monday for an autopsy that will determine the cause of death,” he added.