1-year-old dies after falling from hotel window in South Dakota
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A Minnesota family is mourning the loss of a 1-year-old boy who fell from a window at a hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Madden Hein fell from a third-story window over the weekend. He was transported to a local hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries, according to a GoFundMe post.
It is with heavy hearts to say that our sweet baby boy Madden gained his angel wings late on April 15th," Madden's mother Kathryn Hein wrote on Facebook. "We miss him so much and we are having a hard time processing this all."
A spokesman for the Sioux Falls police told Nexstar's KELO that the investigation is ongoing, but currently points to a tragic accident.
On Wednesday, around 250 people gathered in Sioux Falls for a walk to honor Madden. That morning, a crowd also gathered in front of the Sanford Children’s Hospital for a ceremony in his honor, many of then driving from Minnesota to attend.
“I thought it was important to be here for the Hein family," said one friend of the family.
Stephen Condon, the mayor of Lakefield, Minnesota, said he was proud of his town's efforts to support the Heins.
“The whole town stepped forward to help Alex and Kathryn and it’s a good feeling knowing that our town is the way it is to help people go through this very, very tough time,” said Condon.
On Facebook, Kathryn Hein said Madden's organs would be donated.
"His organs are going to help so many other people," she wrote. "Our little boy is a real life superhero."
For those attending, there was some comfort in knowing Madden’s death is giving others the gift of life.
"It’s a horrible loss for them and everybody in our small community, and I’m just glad that he was able to save so many other lives as well,” one attendee told KELO.
Madden is survived by his parents and older sister. Kathryn Hein is also expecting another child, the GoFundMe page indicates.