(WJET/WFXP)– A holiday vacation turned into a tragedy affecting the local Harborcreek community.

We sat down with a local grief counselor to talk about how neighbors and friends can cope with loss.

Non-profit organization, the Highmark Caring Place, offers services to grieving families at no charge and is reaching out to the Harborcreek community.

“I just lost it. Losing a husband and a son all at one time is very unreal,” said Heidi Johson, Matthew Atchely’s cousin.

Harbor Creek School District arranged for additional counselors to talk with students Tuesday after hearing the tragic news of a classmate passing away.

14-year-old Tyler Atchley and 42-year-old Matthew Atchley — A father and son both drowned in Lake Anna in Virginia Saturday while attending a graduation party.

According to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, while deputies were on their way the child’s father jumped in the water in an attempt to rescue his son.   

“They both knew how to swim and to have something like this happen is unbelievable,” said Johson.

Johson grew up with Matthew and described him as her rock.

“No matter what struggles they went through, they always pushed through with the family and that’s what hurts the most,” said Johson.

Both victims were residents of Harborcreek Township and Tyler was a student at Harbor Creek’s Junior High.

Highmark Caring Place Program Manager Kristie Nosich said with this being so sudden, it can be especially difficult for school-age children.

“Constant exposure to the grief can be really overwhelming to children, and a lot of kids we know don’t know how to manage the ablility of ‘Is this too much or is this not enough?'” said Nosich.

She explained that a lot of children turn to social media, which can be both helpful and traumatizing.

“If you go on Facebook right now people are putting in their condeolences, people are touched by this story. So you have an entire communiy coming together that are collectively greiveing wheather they knew this family or not,” said Nosich.

Nosich said to help those who are grieving it’s important to establish a support system so that those who are suffering know that they are not alone.

“They reach out to their friends, they don’t reach out to their adults but it’s because we don’t provide that safe space for them. So telling that that ‘I’m here for you,’ you’re not judging their feelings,” said Nosich. “We don’t want to direct their grief. You want to sit with them and give them that space that allows them to say whatever that they need to say.”

If you are in need of resources, you can visit Highmark Caring Place’s website.

For those who want to donate to their GoFundMe, click here.