Community members in one Georgia community are praying for the recovery of a high school student after more than 90 percent of his body was burned in a freak accident.
In multiple posts on Facebook, officials with the Bremen Police Department and Bremen City Schools said Mayson McKinzie was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital after being severely burned Saturday.
Bremen High School Principal Tim Huff told AJC.com that McKinzie was injured while using gas to start an outdoor fire.
“Today is a big day,” Huff said. “He is currently in surgery to clean all the burns. The surgery is expected to take most of the day.”
McKinzie, 14, is a freshman at Bremen and a member of the football and lacrosse teams. He’s also the brother of a Bremen police officer.
“It's hard, because that's not just my brother. That's my best friend,” Dalton McKinzie told Channel 2 Action News. “But honestly, it's just a tragic accident.”
The teen could be in the hospital for months as he recovers.
“You fight until you can't fight, and then you fight some more,” his brother told the news station. “That's the only thing to do. You don't lay down and quit. That's not how my brother is. I'm gonna be here for my best friend.”
“He is loved by students and teachers,” Huff said, adding that McKinzie will likely remain sedated for the next couple of months.
Those who wish to help the family can send cash or checks made out to “BHS FCA” to 504 Georgia Avenue in Bremen, with “Mayson” written in the memo line.
“Mayson McKinzie's family is overwhelmed by the tremendous support of our community and school system,” the school district wrote in a post.
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