Candlelight Vigil Held For Temecula Boy

A candlelight vigil was held Monday evening for a Temecula boy who was critically injured, and later died from a tunnel collapse. 

Some 200 people attended a candlelight vigil for Anthony Fowler at Ronald Reagan Sports Park in Temecula. The accident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. Feb. 5, at Long Canyon Creek Park, 40356 N. General Kearny Road.

To read about the accident, click here.

Anthony, who was 11 years old, was rendered brain-dead from his injuries. The youngster was buried by dirt and rocks following the collapse of a tunnel he was digging. 

The family has set up a website for Anthony. To view the website, click here. 

"It was then we decided to offer what Anthony had to give, the parts of his body he no longer would use," according to the family's website.

To see more pictures of the vigil, click here.

Anthony Fowler died at 4:56 a.m. Feb. 16th, as doctors removed his living organs at Rady Children's Hospital, according to an announcement written by Gretchen Fowler, his mother.

“It’s very difficult to bring to words what you want to say,” Gretchen Fowler said tonight.

“That day was a horrible day; It was a tragedy; It was an accident.

"It was kids being kids."

Anthony was digging with his friend Tyler Brown on that Sunday afternoon.

“Nobody did anything wrong Tyler ... at all ... and I can tell you -- that over and over again -- how proud we are of you for what you did and you are a great friend to Anthony," Fowler said at the vigil.

“I want to make sure that Tyler understands that in our eyes. He is a hero for what he did trying save his friend that day.”

Anthony’s friend Tyler and his family joined the Fowlers this evening.

“I’m really going to miss my friend, we did so many things together,” Tyler Brown said. “We’ve got so many scars. We've ran into walls or smashed each other with sticks.

“I remember one time we were walking behind Lowes and he (Anthony) somehow kicked a wall, but we didn’t notice until we saw blood gushing down his leg and he ended up getting stitches.”

The night was filled with tears and laughter from family, friends, and people giving support.

“Thank you all for coming,” Fowler said.