PITTSBURGH -- The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh released a statement on Thursday, mourning the loss of a Mount Lebanon teenager at its West Virginia. camp.
Leah Blum, 14, was injured when a tree fell Wednesday night at the Emma Kaufmann Camp, located outside Morgantown.
Blum was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital but didn't survive her injures, the Jewish Community Center said.
According to a news release from the center, heavy rains weakened the tree, which is why it fell 35 feet onto Blum’s tent at about 6:30 p.m.
“The construction of the place where Leah was is a tent facility that’s on a wooden deck,” said Monongalia County Sheriff Al Kisner. “The report was that she was semi-conscious but at some point after that she did lose consciousness.”
Kisner said several of Blum’s fellow campers and counselors attempted to save her.
“I think it’s an act of nature -- one of those bizarre freak accidents, unfortunately,” said JCC spokeswoman Cathy Samuels.
The camp has called in grief counselors to help campers and staff members cope with the loss.
"The family was notified immediately and our camp staff has met with them personally," the center said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them."
Emma Kaufmann Camp, owned and operated by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, is located on Cheat Lake, about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh.
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