A community fundraiser has been launched to support Cole, a 13-year-old from Bracebridge who was involved in a collision on Nov. 9.
According to police, the incident happened at around 1:15 p.m. when officers, along with Muskoka EMS, responded to calls from the public reporting a collision between a vehicle and an e-bike on Taylor Road in Bracebridge.
Police said the youth operating the e-bike was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Julie Cochrane, organizer of the GoFundMe, said Colе’s world changed in an instant.
“This unimaginable accident has not only brought physical pain and uncertainty, but also emotional distress for such a young, spirited boy who has touched all our lives deeply,” said Cochrane.
She said after the accident, he was rushed to a local hospital and then transported to Orillia for emergency surgery. He was later taken to Toronto for an extensive eight-hour surgery to reattach his partially severed foot.
“Cole is facing a long road to recovery—medical treatments, therapies, and the support he needs to heal both his body and spirit,” said Cochrane.
According to Cochrane, there are additional surgeries and skin grafts needed, as his skin has been extensively damaged from his knee down to his ankle on both sides of his leg. It’s expected that he will be at Sick Kids Hospital for several months.
“The surgeons shared that while he may not be able to run marathons again, miracles can happen,” she said. “We’re grateful he’s alive and thankful that he can still keep his foot, for now.”
In an update, Cochrane shared a second surgery has been completed, but they are still “holding onto hope as the results haven’t come in as we wished.”
A police investigation into the collision is ongoing, and anyone with any information is asked to contact Bracebridge OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
As of today (Nov. 13) $16,449 has been raised in support of Cole.
For more information about the fundraiser or to donate, click here.
