Fundraiser Set Up For Victim Of Clearwater Stairwell Collapse

BRANDON, FL — Overwhelmed by the community's outpouring of offers to help following the sudden death of her husband, Mitchel, Alexis Klock agreed to set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and bills during this difficult time.

Mitchel Thomas Klock of Brandon died Monday when the stairwell of a four-story garage in Clearwater that he was working on collapsed, dumping tons of concrete debris on top of him.

Just 23 years old, Mitchel and Alexis Klock would have celebrated their one-year anniversary on Jan. 24.

The two were high school sweethearts, having met in 2012 while in middle school and then attended and graduated from Riverview High School in 2017.

Klock started his own welding business and was especially proud of his new company truck with the company logo emblazoned on its side, posting a photo of it on his Facebook page.

He had been hired to do work on the garage stairwell at 2575 Enterprise Road after the city of Clearwater inspected it and told the owner that there were cracks and other structural problems.

"He was a good, hard-working guy just trying to care for this family," said Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter.

Due to the building's instability, it took two days before rescue workers were able to recover Klock's body. The recovery occurred just before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

He and another worker were making repairs to the garage stairwell on Monday around 12:30 p.m. when the stairwell collapsed.

Slaughter said his department is still investigating the collapse to determine if the problem with the stairwell was caused by negligence.

"We are not at the point where we say this is a criminal investigation. We are collecting information related to the death of Mitchel," he said.

Alexis Klock, her in-laws and other family members were contacted immediately after the accident and spent most of the 24 hours immediately following the collapse at the scene. However, they were prepared for the worst.

Clearwater Fire Division Chief John Klinefelter said shortly after the collapse that he believed it was a recovery operation, not a rescue.

Alexis Klock said she's still trying to come to terms with the death of the man who was the love of her life and her constant companion for 10 years.

"He was my rock, my partner in crime, my soulmate, my husband, my best friend," she said. "We were married on Jan. 24 and starting our new life as husband and wife and building our future. With this sudden loss, as you can imagine, there are many things that need to be taken care of. As I sort through the emotions and loss and try to hold my head up high, I am going to need some financial help."

She said her family and close friends have reached out to help her emotionally as well as financially, but she realizes there's a limit to their largesse.

Patch reached out to Alexis Klock after a number of people who knew the couple in high school and in the community asked how they could help.

While she said she's hesitant to accept charity, she said she realizes she will need help with bills and funeral arrangements.

"Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated as I try to take it day by day and breath by breath as needed," she said. "My heart is broken and life will never be the same, but I know Mitchel will always be with me. Forever and ever and then a day longer."

Those wishing to help can go to the GoFundMe page that Alexis gave the heartbreaking title: "Help My Wife Bring Me Home and Keep Me Safe."

As of Christmas Day, 70 people had donated $8,520 to the fund.

If anyone would like to help in other ways, reach out to Patch editor D'Ann Lawrence White at dann.white@patch.com, and Patch will make sure Alexis Klock gets the message.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

See related stories:

• 'He Was A Hard-Working Man Just Trying To Care For His Family'
• Body Of 23-Year-Old Worker Recovered From Collapsed Stairwell
• 23-Year-Old Worker Feared Dead In Collapsed Stairwell Of Garage