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THE heartbroken family of a rising star chef who was crushed to death by a falling boulder has praised her boyfriend for making a valiant final attempt to save her.
Connor Quinton watched in horror as a rock crushed his 26-year-old partner Gianna Buzzetta during a bucket list hike in Hawaii.
After the tragic accident, Quinton ran for help in a desperate attempt to save her life after pulling her from the water.
With no cell service on the trail, he was forced to run through rugged terrain for miles to reach emergency responders.
“He performed heroic acts to save her. We will forever be indebted to that. He never gave up,” Gianna’s mom, Caty Buzzetta, told ABC local affiliate KGTV.
The couple had been hiking near Makaleha Falls in Kauai, Hawaii on March 23 when “they heard a really loud noise,” her dad Sal said.
“He looked up, but couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from,” he said.
“Within a second, it happened. The rock dislodged from quite a ways up, then it landed on her.”
Connor pulled her from the water and raced to get help as quickly as he can.
Gianna was eventually airlifted to a hospital, but she died from her injuries the next day.
“She was in nature. That was her element. She was with the love of her life,” Caty said.
“In a glimpse of time, she had pure bliss… she was living in the moment best she ever had.”
Gianna’s parents were able to fly to Hawaii and say goodbye to their daughter before she passed.
FUNDRAISER FOR GIANNA
Now, back home in Carlsbad, California, her community is rallying to honor her.
A fundraiser is set for Monday night at Jeune et Jolie, where Gianna had worked for four years as a pastry chef.
Statement from the owner of Jeune et Jolie
John Resnick, the owner of Jeune et Jolie, told KUSI:
”We all heard the news, and it was obviously paralyzing, and not knowing what to do. She was a huge part of the team. Super creative, super talented, incredibly hardworking. Humble, confident, I mean all these things that we want to see in the people we work with, and so from that professional talent standpoint, she was incredible and then just as a person you wanted to be around. Our whole team loved working alongside her.
“She loved a beautiful, plated, complicated dessert… those were her favorite things. The crazier the better,” her parents said.
The event is raising money for funeral expenses and costs tied to the tragic trip.
“Her love and her actions spoke volumes… even though she was the girl of not many words,” Caty said.
John Resnick, the restaurant’s owner, called the loss “paralyzing.”
An online fundraiser launched by family friend Carlye Wund has raised $42,000 of its $225,000 goal.
The fundraiser describes Gianna as someone who volunteered at animal rescue shelters and always put others first.
Her family says they are deeply touched by the support pouring in from across the country.
“They are FOREVER grateful to each and every first responder, firefighter, doctor and medical specialist from Kauai to Honolulu that worked selflessly to save Gianna’s life,” the GoFundMe states.
“You need to go and live your dreams – make it happen because time is of the essence,” Caty said.
