A 2-year-old boy was killed during Wednesday night’s rainstorm.
According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, toddler Aeon Tocchini died after a redwood tree crashed on top of his home in Occidental, California on Joy Road. The area is heavily wooded with redwoods.
The town’s fire chief immediately responded to the scene, but unfortunately, there was nothing he or the paramedics can do to save Aeon.
Aeon was nicknamed “Goldie” by family and friends because of his beautiful blond hair.
His grandmother, Aileen Tocchini, said the young boy’s sudden death felt like a “nightmare.”
Aeon was, “full of joy. He brought happiness to everybody he connected with, no matter if he was at a grocery store or at the park,” his grandmother said.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said the toddler was sitting on a couch in the living room at 5:30 p.m. when strong winds caused a tree to topple over the house. The tree broke through the ceiling and onto the Aeon.
“Trees were falling left and right,” due to the storm, and “basically crushed the residence,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Juan Valencia.
Occidental Fire Department Chief Ron Lunardi was first to arrive on the scene. “A frantic father came out of the household with the child, he was kind of covered in debris and he said ‘my child is not breathing,’” Lunardi said.
A GoFundMe page was created by the toddler’s aunt to support the family and fund funeral costs.
“You never imagine tragedy hitting your own family, until one day, it does. Our worst nightmare became reality. Our hearts are broken and our family is shocked and rocked to the core,” the aunt wrote.
She wrote, “Goldie loved to dance, music moved his soul. He was kind, gentle, and had the most loving spirit. He loved the outdoors like his mama, and his daddy was his hero. He was deeply adored by his family and he instantly stole the hearts of those around him. He shined like the sun. If you ever had the joy of meeting Goldie, you would know the light that I speak of. His light still shines so brightly in our hearts, and always will.”
