On June 10, 2001 my 16 yr. son drowned and this web page is in honour to his all too short life. there is so much, about my son, I would like to share but words seem so inadequate. All I can do is tell you what happened to him and hope that in doing so, another senseless death can be prevented.
Life for Gilles was not an easy matter. At 16 yrs, he was small for his age. He stood 5' 2 and weighed 50 kilograms. Gilles wore glasses and had learning disabilities. From the very beginning of his school years, Gilles was the classic target for bullies. Each year had become progressively difficult for him. From his pain grew frustration, from his frustration grew anger.
All Gilles wanted was to be accepted and because of this desire he allowed 'friends' to abuse him and they all to willingly did so. Upon entering highschool Gilles was froshed. He was paddled so hard that he could not sit. Somehow he felt if he could prove to his 'peers' that he could be 'big' enough to take what they dished out, then maybe they would accept him.
On the night of June 9th, Gilles was with two 'friends' and they were drinking. (I have never been able to find out from where they obtained the alcohol.) My son, once again wanting to prove that he was as 'big' as his 'friends', drank twice the amount as they did. Gilles was so intoxicated that he was not capable of pulling himself up from the ground or preventing his face from smashing into the ground, when he fell.
Gilles and his two friends crossed over a small foot bridge. His 'friends' left him there, alone. The rest was determined by the police and the medical examiner: Gilles then made his way down to the small creek, they had just crossed over. This creek was less than 2 feet wide and less than 18 inches deep. Gilles stepped into the water, (his footprints were found in the bottom of the creek) and out onto the other side. He then passed out or laid down onto the grass. We do not know if he was completely unconcious or just unable to move, but it was then that he rolled from the sloped embankment, back into the water and drowned!
When your child dies, there is no way to describe what goes through a mother's or a father's heart, only those who have also lost a child understand this. Our son no longer walks this earth and our pain will remain with us until our dying day. So, please if you are a teen, don't think this can't happen to you. If you are a parent who thinks 'this won't happen to my child', think again. It ony takes one mistake and it can be fatal.
We love and miss you Gilles
Mom, Dad, Andre, Miranda and Derek |
