The four people confirmed dead in Monday’s fatal crane collapse in downtown Kelowna, B.C., have been identified through social media.
According to GoFundMe, verified fundraising pages have been set up for brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer, plus Jared Zook and Cailen Vilness.
All four men were construction workers at the site of a future 25-storey building where the crane was operating before it fell Monday morning.
A fifth person, who has yet to be found, is believed to be dead and buried in the rubble, police said Tuesday.
The fundraising page for the Stemmer brothers was set up by Emily Roy of Salmon Arm.
“Among those tragically lost were brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer,” Roy wrote.
“These men are husbands, fathers, sons, friends and chosen family to so many, this sudden loss is nothing short of heartbreaking.”
The mayor of Salmon Arm, Alan Harrison, said the Stemmer family, and the family business, is based out of that community.
“It’s extremely sad,” said Harrison. “Certainly (city) council and the residents of Salmon Arm, our hearts go out to the family.
“It’s unfathomable, really, and just devastating.”
On the fundraising page for Zook, it asked for donations so that his parents from the Edmonton area could cover funeral and other costs.
“Our family is devastated by the loss of our fun, kind and loving son-brother-friend-nephew-cousin-husband,” wrote Christa Walker, the organizer for Zook’s fundraising page.
“Our lives are infinitely better for having him be a part of them. We know Jesus is wrapping his arms tightly around him right now.”
The fundraiser for Vilness’ family said the 23-year-old was “a prince of a man” and “lived life to the fullest.” Vilness was also set to propose to his girlfriend, the organizers said.
“Only 23, he had his whole life ahead of him and was getting ready to spend the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams,” wrote pastors Everton and Tracy Weekes of the Living Faith Church in Kelowna.
One co-worker dropped off four bouquets of flowers at the site on Tuesday.
“Struggling,” Shea Cosgrove told Global News. “I was lucky not to be … and I’ve known them pretty well for the past year. We’d become brothers.”
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