sudbury man has a long road to recovery following deadly fire
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julia jaworski of sudbury has started a gofundme campaign for her brother kevin (pictured here with his family), who was badly injured in a fire that killed his friend, sam sirkka, last month. gofundme photo
a devastating fire on a remote island near sudbury that claimed the life of sam sirkka also left his friend facing a long and painful recovery.
sirkka, remembered by friends and family as a man who was “happiest in the bush,” died at the scene of the fire while his friend suffered severe burns and is recovering at sunnybrook hospital in toronto.
the ontario provincial police said officials responded to a structural fire around midnight on may 18 on an island located on little gabodin lake, accessible by portage from panache lake. officials said a 26-year-old sudbury resident died at the scene, and another 27-year-old sudbury resident suffered serious injuries.
friends organized a gofundme campaign for sirkka, while another campaign has been launched to support his friend kevin. the gofundme campaign describes a difficult road ahead as kevin recovers from injuries sustained in the blaze, while also coping with the loss of a close friend.
“kevin is someone who truly loves the outdoors and spending time with his friends and family,” wrote his sister julia jaworski of sudbury, who created the campaign. “more than anything, he is a devoted husband and father to his beautiful baby girl. i have never seen him care about anyone the way he cares for his wife and daughter. they are his entire world. he is also a loving son, brother, and friend who would do anything for the people he loves.”
jaworski said a fire destroyed the cabin where friends were staying on the island. her brother woke up “just in time to escape but not before suffering severe burns to his head, back and arms.”
“our hearts are also broken for sam sirkka, a close friend of kevin, kayleigh, and their families, who tragically lost his life in the fire,” said the sister. “the grief being felt by everyone who knew and loved sam is impossible to put into words.”
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she said her brother is demonstrating “incredible strength and determination’ in the hospital and that doctors are optimistic about his recovery. despite the positive prognosis, she said her brother has a long and challenging road to recovery.
“the physical healing alone will take months, and the emotional impact of this tragedy may take even longer to overcome,” she wrote online.
money raised through the online campaign will support kevin’s wife, kayleigh, and go towards travel expenses, accommodations, supplies, daycare costs for their daughter and any additional medical or recovery-related expenses that may come up.
as of monday, the campaign reached nearly $12,000 of its $14,000 goal. for more, go to www.gofundme.com/f/kevins-road-to-recovery-ezake.
bluesky: @sudburystar.bsky.social
x: @sudburystar
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