Deceased skateboarder wasn’t wearing helmet

(Update)

In Brantford tonight, friends and family are mourning the death of a 15-year old Brantford boy who died this past weekend while skateboarding. Daniel Freisz-Kivell, known to friends as Felix, was cruising downhill on Stanley Street when he fell off his board.

Felix, as he liked his buddies to call him, loved to skateboard. that’s how he met many of his friends and they say, tragically, he was just starting to regain a passion for life when he died.

A growing memorial on the spot where Daniel Felix Kivell-Friesz lost his life pays tribute to a young man who loved the feeling of wind in his hair.

Friend Destiny Stoker: “He just had so much more to live for.”

Two years ago, the death of his father threw him into a funk — but even in his darkest moments, he managed to put his friends first.

Friend Paul Swiryd: “He was just always there to talk to. If you needed something, he would come right to you to talk if you were feeling down.”

Destiny Stoker: “He still pushed himself to be a great person and help everyone else as much as he could.”

Recently, friends say, his mood had improved.

Friend Jessica Nevinger: “The last few posts on his Facebook said ‘grade 11, woo-hoo, I’m excited’ and that he’s starting to love his life.”

He was looking forward to joining the senior football team, and learning new tricks at the skate park. His friends and skating buddies can hardly believe they’ll never ride with him again.

Felix was skateboarding down the Stanley Street hill when he lost control, fell off and hit his head. Police say he was not wearing a helmet. No one will ever know for certain whether a helmet would have saved his life.

David Wiedrick with Brantford Police: “At this point we’re not entirely sure. I can tell you it was head injuries, so I’m sure wearing a helmet would at least have helped.”

Either way, his friends are left with nothing but memories.

Friend Dwight Walton: “He always had the funniest things to talk about and he was always the nicest person to everybody.”

And the knowledge that felix died doing something he loved.

His death has touched a lot of young people. Why Not Youth Centre is hosting a memorial for him this evening at 7:30. Friends and family are welcome to attend. Later tonight, a small vigil will take place at the intersection where he died.