Money raised to bring nephew’s body home
A Stoney Creek woman is raising money to bring her teen nephew home from Jamaica after he drowned in a river swollen by hurricane Harvey.
Garnet Haley, 19, of Mississauga, died Aug. 24 while he, his sister and father visited family.
“He went to explore the river,” says his aunt, Keelie Young. His father left him for a few minutes and when he returned, Garnet had vanished. Only his shoe was left behind.
Garnet — who loved “all things basketball” — was later found, downriver, by his father.
Young says the river was much higher and faster than usual because of the reach of Hurricane Harvey, which has slammed Houston, Texas.
Garnet leaves his mom, dad and five siblings. He wanted to get into a skilled trades program.
“He was a really kind, loving, gentle boy,” Young says.
An autopsy will be done in Jamaica and then the family will bring Garnet’s body home. The cost of that is high.
Young says her grieving family is buoyed by the outpouring of support from 175 friends and family who donated more than $12,000 to a GoFundMe account aimed at bringing Garnet home. They are hoping to raise $20,000.
To donate, go to gofundme.com and find the Help Bring Garnet Home page.