A North Carolina family experienced a horrible tragedy last Tuesday when their 13-year-old autistic son lost his life after accidentally setting fire to the Christmas tree at the family home, several American media reported.
While under the supervision of a caregiver responsible for looking after him in the absence of his mother, Brandon Gonzales allegedly got his hands on a lighter with which he ignited the Christmas tree. The flames then spread to the rest of the house.
The caregiver and a five-year-old girl who were also in the house managed to flee the burning residence, but Brandon remained trapped in the blaze.
Despite the efforts made by the caregiver to try to save him, the 13-year-old boy died in the fire.
“I miss him so much; I’m dying of sadness,” expressed his heartbroken mother Brenda Contreras Juarez.
“We have lost all our material possessions, but the most difficult thing is that we will not be able to recover what hurts us the most,” she added. He always made me happy with his smile. He was everything to me.”
Brenda Contreras Juarez lived alone with her three children in the house which was completely razed by the flames.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched on the GoFundMe site.
