Help William Gifford III's Family in Their Time of Need

As many of you may already know, our family suffered an unimaginable loss yesterday due to a tragic accident. My cousin, William Gifford III, was about 200 feet offshore on The Great Sacandaga Lake with his friend Jason. They were drilling holes and setting up their tip-ups. While they stopped their Polaris Ranger to drill a second hole, the Ranger suddenly sank through the ice into the water.

Miraculously, both managed to escape the vehicle and were in the hole, trying to get out. Jason was able to climb out and attempted to help William, along with another friend who ran to assist. William was swimming in the freezing water, waiting for more help to pull him out. Once he was pulled onto the ice and laid on his back, his entire body seized up—his fists clenched shut, his jaw locked, and he turned blue almost instantly.

CPR was started immediately, and 911 was called. Paramedics arrived on the scene, took over CPR, used a defibrillator, and administered all possible life-saving measures. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, where they worked tirelessly to revive him, but tragically, he did not survive.

William leaves behind his beautiful fiancée, a 4-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old son, and a stepson. Our family never imagined we would face something like this. William was a hardworking man who always did his best to provide for his family. He overcame incredible odds to become the man he was.

At this time, we are seeking to raise funds to cover funeral expenses, bills, groceries, and the needs of his children and his fiancée, Jade. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this message would mean just as much to us. We are deeply grateful for your support during this time of grieving. Jade is Currently the beneficiary and all funds go straight to her bank account!