Centralia woman asks for support after young son snuck out of house, drowned in a pool

A Centralia woman is asking for community assistance to raise enough money to give her young son a proper burial after he drowned in a pool on Thursday, July 11.

Elijah Ortega reportedly snuck out of the sliding glass door of his home, ran and jumped into a pool on the property and drowned, according to his mother, Alex Ortega.

First responders attempted CPR on Elijah and transported him to Providence Centralia Hospital, where he passed.

“Everybody tried everything in their power to do everything they could for him,” Alex Ortega said in a written statement attached to an online fundraiser. “We appreciate anything and everything from everyone. He is loved dearly by everybody around him. Prayers to our family, please.”

As of Monday morning, a fundraiser created by Alex Ortega on Friday with the goal of raising $4,000 had raised $3,805.

To donate or for more information on the fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/elijah-ortega-passing .