ONEONTA, Alabama - A 10-year-old Blount County boy died Friday night in what police say appears to be an accidental hanging.

The death happened at the family's home about 5 p.m., said Oneonta Police Chief James Chapman. The chief said he wasn't yet releasing the boy's name or address to make sure all of his extended family members had been notified. Family and friends, however, identified him as AJ Underwood, and have set up a fund to help with burial expenses.

The boy lived with his mother and three younger sisters. They had only been home about 10 or 15 minutes, and were getting ready to go to a birthday party.

His mother called out to him that it was time to leave, and the boy didn't answer.

When she went into his room, she found him hanging from a rope tied to his top bunk bed.

The mother got him down and ran outside screaming for help. Neighbors called 911 and began CPR until paramedics arrived and took over the resuscitation efforts.

AJ was taken to St. Vincent's Blount, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities believe his death was instant.

Chapman said the boy was in the Boy Scouts and recently had been trying to earn his merit badge for knot tying. That was the rope used, the chief said, in the accidental hanging.

"There's absolutely nothing to indicate he did this on purpose,'' Chapman said. "He had been in good spirits, he was making good grades."

Chapman said AJ's death was also hard on those who responded to the scene. "My investigator is tough... and he couldn't even talk,'' he said. "It was the first day for one of the medics, and she had to go home."

Family friends established a fund today to help with AJ's burial expenses. More than $3,000 was raised within the first hour of the fund's launch. Donations can be made here.