12-Year-Old Boy Dies 1 Day After Enrolling at Wilderness Therapy Camp in North Carolina

Lake Toxaway in North Carolina.Photo:Greg Newington/Getty

Greg Newington/Getty

A 12-year-old boy was found dead at a wellness therapy camp in North Carolina on Saturday, one day after he was enrolled in the program, according to multiple reports.

It is unclear how the child, who has not been publicly identified, died while attending the camp in Lake Toxaway.

“Our priority is to acknowledge and respect the unfathomable impact on their lives and maintain the integrity of the investigation into the cause,” the camp added.

The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the boy’s death, according to theAssociated PressandFOX affiliate WHNS. Trails Carolina said it is cooperating with authorities.

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“While we understand the need and value of keeping the public informed, protecting the family’s privacy and the privacy and well being of our students and staff is our primary concern," the camp said in its statement.

The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Founded in 2008, Trails Carolina describes itself as “a multi-dimensional adventure therapy program that combines the therapeutic qualities of a residential treatment center with the natural healing benefits of outdoor behavioral healthcare," according to itswebsite.

The company’s “licensed, accredited, and outcome-driven nature-based therapy program” helps kids between the ages of 10 and 17 work through “behavioral or emotional difficulties."

source: people.com