The B.C. Coroners Service issued a public safety alert on July 17 about wildfire smoke after confirming a nine-year-old boy died after his medical condition was exacerbated by the deterioration in air quality caused by the smoke.
The boy, Carter Vigh, died last week in hospital. He’d suffered from asthma his whole life and always carried an inhaler, his parents, James and Amber Vigh, told CBC on July 17. They said their son died July 11 after visiting the emergency room for an asthma attack.
The coroner said the death of the young boy was a “heartbreaking loss” for his family and the 100 Mile House community where he lived, adding that the public was becoming more aware of the risks and consequences of wildfire smoke and extreme heat in the province….