MAGNA, Utah – The family of a 12-year-old boy who died Thursday after a thin-ice accident at an outdoor community pool in Magna spoke Friday, and they shared their memories of a, “goofy, funny, loving kid."
Jacques Bushman, 12, fell into a pool through thin ice Tuesday after hopping over a fence to use a restroom, and he died Thursday in a hospital. Click here for more details on the accident.
Katrina Jensen, the boy’s aunt, said her nephew took pleasure in making people happy.
“One of his favorite things to do was to make you laugh, ya know, he was happy if he could make you laugh," she said.
Jensen said the shock of the boy’s death was something a person can’t prepare for.
“These kind of thing just happen so suddenly, you know, you’re never really prepared to hear that kind of news," she said.
His family is trying to focus on positive things, like the way he treated others.
“Really loving, he loved to help people,” Jensen said. “He was a hard worker. Super active. I mean, he was always, when they’d come over, he’d go out back, he’d climb our fruit trees. And he just loved to play with the other kids.”
Jacques' parents decided to donate his organs, which family said turns a terrible loss into hope for other families who are suffering.
“We’re trying to look at it as that he will live on in other people,” Jensen said.
Jacques leaves behind his parents and six younger siblings, and his family takes comfort in knowing they've got a lot of support during this difficult time.
“Every memory I have of him is just how happy and how much he wanted to be involved in things and help out,” Jensen said. "He will be missed very much. He already is missed.”
A fundraising account to help the family with funeral expenses has been established under the boy’s name, Jacques Bushman, at Mountain America Credit Union. Donations can be made at any branch or by calling Mountain America at 800-748-4302.
