Watch above: An 8-year-old boy woke up from his coma on Christmas night only to find out he was an orphan. Aalia Adam reports.
MONTREAL – The small community of Les Coteaux is still reeling over an apartment fire that claimed the lives of Patrick Gagnon, Karine Desrochers Gauthier, two-year-old Felix and four-year-old Lorie.
The sole survivor is 8-year-old Mathis Gagnon.
He woke up from a coma on Christmas Day to learn that his entire family had perished in a fire.
READ MORE: 2-year-old son latest Les Coteaux fire victim
It’s a tragic story that has people from all over the province showing sympathy.
On Sunday dozens of firefighters and volunteers stopped cars at the corner of route 338, hoping to collect donations for the boy’s future.
“We have people from Montreal who drove all the way here to come and give their money,” said firefighter, Eric Menard.
An anonymous donor even gifted $5000 to the boy.
“We really appreciate it.”
By the end of the day, they managed to raise over $40,000.
“Every little bit can help this little boy”, Nick Distaulo told Global News.
He came from Rivieres-des-Prairies to show his support.
“I mean to lose an entire family, I couldn’t possibly imagine what he’s going through.”
This was just one of the many initiatives organized for the young boy.
Other communities around Les Coteaux are also helping out.
Community Wings, a non-profit organization in the West Island and Vaudreuil-Soulanges, has started collecting funds for the boy’s education.
“While firefighters are taking care for a trust for his future, Community Wings would like to take care of the scholastic front,” explained the group’s president, Selina Richard.
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