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Yosemite Campers Killed By Falling Tree Branch At National Park

Yosemite National Park

Dragon Kim, 14, and Justin Lee, 15, were killed on Friday when an oak tree limb fell on their tent in Yosemite National Park. The two young campers were asleep when the branch fell on them.

The accident occurred around five in the morning in the Upper Pines Campground. When officials first reported the accident on Friday morning, they declined to release the names or ages of the boys, reports Huffington Post.

Park Rangers alerted by 911 calls responded to provide medical assistance. When they arrived on scene, both boys were dead.

What led to the limb falling is under investigation; California is undergoing a severe drought and warm temperatures, causing dry conditions that could have led to the branch breaking off the oak tree.

The toppling branch “sounded like a gunshot when it came down,” said witness Daniel Moore.

I heard a loud crash, a loud boom. It almost sounded like a gunshot when it came down. I heard a woman screaming at the top of her lungs and I knew something was wrong.

Dragon’s father wrote a letter to his son’s water polo team in which he thanked the team members for their love and happiness they brought to his son. The grieving father also paid tribute to his son, reports Inside Edition.

“We are in deep sorrow and mourning,” the letter reads. “You are our precious son and you will live on with us.”

We are in deep sorrow and mourning. Dragon’s mother, sister, and I are home but our hearts are forever broken. Dragon, we love you so much. Thank you for bringing so much love, laughter, and music to our lives. You are our precious son and you will live on with us.

The water polo team changed their profile picture on Facebook to honor the two teens.

Posted by Northwood Water Polo Club on Monday, August 17, 2015

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