Donations help family of Dover boy who died in river

DOVER — Friends of the 12-year-old boy who recently died in the Bellamy River have created an online fundraiser with all proceeds going to help the boy’s family to honor him.

After last being seen at Dover Middle School on the afternoon of Jan. 31, Nathanial Boily's body was found in the river during the afternoon of Feb. 1. The state medical examiner ruled his death was an accidental drowning.

Ben Bolduc, the organizer of the GoFundMe fundraiser, said his son Austin was best friends with Nathanial, often playing video games together after school and enjoying each other’s company.

“He was a great kid,” Bolduc said of Nathanial.

Before Dover Middle School officials announced Nathanial’s death to the community, Bolduc was called to come to pick his son up so he could deliver the tragic news to him. Bolduc knows some of the feelings his son is going through, as he, too, lost his best friend when he young.

“I know how it feels to be in his shoes,” Bolduc said of his son.

Bolduc said he has communicated with Boily's family, and they gave him their blessing for the fundraiser, which has a $5,000 goal.

The fundraiser is found at gofundme.com/nathaniel-m-boily-family-fund.