College Student Dies After Tree Falls on Hammock While on Camping Trip

• Malachi Crain, 22, a senior at the University of Alabama, was killed on April 5 after a tree fell on his hammock during a camping trip in Georgia
• The Bama Catholic Campus Ministry said Crain was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science
• “He was the best son and brother a family could ask for,” according to his obituary

A 22-year-old University of Alabama student has died after a tree fell on his hammock while he slept on a camping trip with friends.

In a Facebook announcement on Monday, April 7, Bama Catholic Campus Ministry identified the victim as Malachi Crain.

“Malachi was a Senior at the University of Alabama and a beloved member of the Bama Catholic Community,” the ministry said. They later added, “He will be dearly missed by many.” they later added.

The accident occurred on Saturday, April 5, at Panther Creek Falls within the Cohutta Wilderness of Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest, the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post.

The agency said authorities received a distress call around 2:12 a.m., local time, from Panther Creek Falls concerning four campers in “a remote and difficult-to-access location.”

“The caller reported that a large tree had fallen directly onto a campsite,” the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency said. “Four young men were sleeping in hammocks at the time of the incident. One individual was reportedly trapped beneath the tree and was unresponsive.”

It took more than five hours for emergency crews to reach the remote campsite after the alert was raised, according to the agency.

The Fannin County Emergency Management Agency said a father and daughter heard the tree fall and immediately rushed over to the site after hearing cries for help. The father and daughter assisted and stayed with the campers.

After emergency crews arrived, the father and daughter hiked out with the two uninjured campers and transported them back to their vehicle.

The agency described the terrain around Panther Creek Falls as “rugged, marked by steep inclines, dense forest cover, and extremely limited access.”

A helicopter from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources arrived and extracted Crain and the injured camper from the scene. The injured camper was later taken to Blue Ridge Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment, the agency added.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young men involved in this tragic and unforeseeable accident,” Fannin County Emergency Management Agency’s statement concluded.

In an obituary, Crain, who is from Greenville, S.C., was described as someone with “a love for math from an early age.”

“Malachi was super smart and his sisters considered him the most intellectual of the three Crain kids,” the obituary read. Among his other interests were reading, athletics and cooking.

“Malachi loved his family deeply,” the tribute continued. “While his dad was deployed, he cared for his mother in the most compassionate way. He regularly touched base with his parents, grandparents, and other relatives. … He was the best son and brother a family could ask for.”

“Most importantly, Malachi was raised in a Christian home and taught the love of Jesus Christ from the time he was born,” his obtiuary added.

Bama Catholic said Crain was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science at the University of Alabama, adding that he served multiple roles at the campus ministry.

“He was the Vice President of Liturgy for 2024 and was known for his love of altar serving,” the ministry said. “He led a bible study and was discipling other men in our community for over two years.”

Crain is survived by his parents, his two sisters and his grandparents. A funeral will be held for Crain this Thursday, April 10.

PEOPLE contacted the University of Alabama on Wednesday, April 9, for comment.