Their family said the pair is now “safe in the arms of Jesus”
A 26-year-old woman and her 5-month-old baby are dead after they were hit by a tree at a campground in British Columbia, officials said.
On Thursday, July 31, first responders arrived at Cumberland Lake Park Campground in Cumberland near Comox Lake after a tree fell on the mother and child, the Comox Valley RCMP said in a press release.
“Despite the efforts of first responders, the young mother passed away at the scene,” the local police agency said. “The infant was transported to the hospital but sadly did not survive.”
Authorities offered their condolences to those impacted, and thanked the people nearby who “stepped in to help under heartbreaking circumstances.”
No foul play is suspected, and an investigation is ongoing.
The Comox Valley RCMP, the BC Coroners Service and Cumberland Lake Park Campground have been contacted by PEOPLE.
Cumberland Deputy Fire Chief Stephane Dionne told Global News that the tree was about 10 to 15 inches in diameter, and was located about 65 feet in the nearby woods.
“The odds of seeing that is slim,” he told the outlet of the freak accident.
In an emotional statement, the woman’s and baby’s family shared their heartbreak as they invited people to gather at Comox Marine Park on Sunday, Aug. 10, in memory of the pair, who are only addressed by their first names.
They asked attendees to “share in the love that Lynae and Elias brought to this earth and to thank the community for their support,” the statement read, according to Global News.
The family went on to thank first responders and passersby “who tried to save our beautiful babies who we know are safe in the arms of Jesus.”
A spokesperson for the campground told Global News that they don’t know what caused the tree to fall. The tree, which appeared to be dead, has since been removed.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the BC Coroner said that the “investigations into these deaths remain open.