PORTLAND — The condition of a 10-year-old girl, who was injured when a tree fell on her tent Monday night, was downgraded today from serious to critical, according to Maine Medical Center.

Emily Malewitz, a quadruplet, was camping with her family at the Flat Rock Bridge Family Resort in Lebanon when a thunderstorm blew through the campground, toppling trees and hurling debris.

One of those those trees landed on the family’s Toyota van as well as their tent pinning Malewitz for about 10 minutes. She was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The girl’s parents, who are from Millis, Mass., authorized the Lebanon Rescue Department to release information about their daughter’s injuries.

Assistant Rescue Chief Jason A. Cole said surgeons removed a 10 to 12 inch long stick that went into her body and was less than an inch from her vital organs, including her heart. Dozens of pieces of bark also had to be removed from within her body, according to a statement issued by Cole.

Late Tuesday evening, Malewitz was conscious and talking with her family, Cole said. But her condition changed on Wednesday. No further details are available.

The National Weather Service investigated and determined that the storm was not a tornado. Wind gusts during the thunderstorm reached speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

 

 


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