What began as an ordinary day at work ended unimaginably, with a son, brother, teammate an all-round nice young man taken from those who held him dear. 

The words of one of his coaches, Trent Burns, provide a moving insight into the esteem in which Blaine was held. Trent was clearly deeply touched by the young man who had his eyes set firmly on his goals. The tribute from the Dragons, with whom Blaine had played, echoed that sentiment.

The authorities are investigating what exactly happened and why and will no doubt make recommendations as to what steps can be taken to prevent a similar accident from recurring.

In the meantime, the singular lesson for all of us is that fate can be fickle, changing lives in a split second and imposing grief where moments before there was happiness. As we pause to reflect on a short life that was – and a life that could have been – we hope Blaine’s family and friends have all the support a tight-knit community can offer and know we are thinking of them.

For those of us not touched directly, Blaine’s untimely passing is a reminder of just how precious our loved ones are and how suddenly, with no rhyme or reason, they can be taken from us, and how we should treasure each moment we have with them.