The family of Ken Newcombe is overwhelmed by the support they have received after a tragic logging accident claimed the life of the 28-year-old father of four on Jan. 28.
"We really just want to let the community know we are completely overwhelmed by the kindness and caring and help we have all received," said Ken's mother Janet Newcombe in an email to Coast Reporter. "Ken and [his wife] Amber's friends and other family members have been so amazing with the help they have been giving with the children and the chores around the house. So many meals have been brought by from individuals, the Halfmoon Bay School and the Crossroads Church, to name a few."
Newcombe was working for Sladey Timber at the time of the accident-, when a runaway log came down a hill and claimed the young man's life.
While a WorkSafe BC investigation into the accident has been launched, Janet does not blame the company or a lack of safety protocols for her son's death.
"It is an active investigation by WorkSafe BC, so there is not much we can say, but Sladey Timber's safety record is one of the best in the industry, and the situation was not as it has been described or rumoured," she said. "The distances of where there was active falling and other logging going on to where Ken and his crew were working were all considered to be safe distances, with not just one but two separate logging roads between them. For anyone to insinuate that any of the men, including Ken's father Wayne or, for that matter, Ken himself to have approved and be working in an unsafe situation is unkind at best.
"Sladey Timber and the crew has done so much to help the family, and we know they are all grieving very hard for the loss of a good friend."
The crew at Sladey Timber did take Ken's death hard. Owner Doug Sladey halted all logging for 10 days and brought in counsellors to help workers deal with the trauma.
"It's impacting our crew they were all very good friends and this is a terrible thing, an unforeseeable accident," said Sladey. "The big thing with it all is that safety is our number one priority and always has been and always will be. This was just an unfortunate accident and it's hit everybody pretty hard."
He said his company has been working with Amber to get the necessary paperwork processed so she can receive Ken's life insurance and accidental death policy funds.
"It's been time consuming, but it's all in place now. All the paper work's in; we're just waiting for the funds to arrive," said Sladey.
The community has also rallied behind the family, offering help and setting up two community-wide fundraisers.
The Newcombe Family Fundraiser being held tonight (Feb. 25) at the Lighthouse Pub is sold out, but tickets are still available for another fundraiser specifically for the Newcombe children on March 5 at Gilligan's Pub. The "This One's for the Girls Fundraiser" starts at 7 p.m. and will feature a $20 buffet dinner and free drink. There will also be a 50/50 draw and silent and live auctions. Tickets for this event are available at Gilligan's Beer and Wine Store.
Janet thanks everyone in advance for their support of these fundraisers, but notes she and her husband will not be able to attend.
"I want to apologize in advance to the people attending that we [Ken's mom and dad, Wayne and Janet] won't be able to attend because I am beginning my chemotherapy and I don't think I'll be feeling well enough, and I have to be careful of not being in big crowds in order to stay as healthy as I can," she said. "We don't want anyone to think we don't care or appreciate what they are doing, it's just that physically we will be unable to attend."
If you would like to help, but cannot attend either of the fundraisers, there are two trust accounts you can donate to, one with the Sunshine Coast Credit Union and one at the Toronto Dominion Bank in Sechelt.
