Cailen Vilness died in the crane collapse in Kelowna.
Image Credit: GoFundMe
July 19, 2021 - 3:24 PM
Canadian country music singer Aaron Pritchett wrote a touching tribute to one of the victims of the Kelowna crane collapse, who he thought of as a nephew.
“On Monday, July 12, my family lost a son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew, partner and one of the sweetest, most kind, honourable and loving members, Cailen Vilness, in a tragic crane accident in Kelowna,” he said in the Instagram post that has had thousands of interactions and comments.
Cailen was his first cousin Danielle’s youngest son but Pritchett said he was always “Uncle Aaron” to him.
“Every time I happened to be in Kelowna, Cailen would drop everything to visit. He would do that for anyone in his family whom he never had the chance to see often because family meant the world to Cailen,” he wrote.
“His infectious smile and laugh, sense of kindness and care warmed my heart and anyone he met. He truly was a prince of a man, and all who met him would say the same about Cailen.”
Pritchett said the 23-year-old was a light for those who needed positivity and happiness.
“Cailen was taken far too soon but the effect he had on everyone in that short time will impact us all for the rest of our lives,” he said.
He asked that those able donate to the family to support them in their time of need.
Already the GoFundMe has raised $62,514 raised of $50,000 goal.
More than $568,000 had been donated as of today, July 19, to the GoFundMe accounts created for the families. Find all the GoFundMes here.
The crane collapse, July 12, claimed the lives of four men working on the construction site. The fifth man was an employee at Protech Consulting and was killed in his office next door to the construction site.
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