Country singer Granger Smith and his wife, Amber, have shared the devastating news that their three-year-old has died in a “tragic accident”.
“I have to deliver unthinkable news,” Granger wrote in an Instagram post.
“We’ve lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. Following a tragic accident, and despite doctor’s best efforts, he was unable to be revived,” he continued.
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They announced that they made the decision to donate their son’s organs.
“Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life.”
Granger shared his family’s pain.
“Our family is devastated and heartbroken, but we take solace in knowing he is with his Heavenly Father,” he wrote.
He wrote that “Riv was special.”
“Everyone that met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will be forever in our hearts.”
The pain they are going through is unimaginable.
“If there are words to say more, I cannot find them in this moment. Love the ones close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this,” the post concluded.
Granger’s rep confirmed to People Magazine that River’s death was due to a drowning accident at home.
Granger shared the news himself in a heartbreaking Instagram post.
Celebrities from the country music community have been flooding Granger’s Instagram with their condolences.
Morgan Miller, whose 19-month-old daughter drowned a year ago, sent her support to Granger as well.
She re-shared Granger’s post and added, “My heart breaks. Another baby gone too soon.”
Drowning accidents are unfortunately fairly common in children under five.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission , 350 children under the age of five drown per year. Among unintentional injuries, drowning is the second leading cause of death to this age group after motor vehicle accidents.
In some states, it is the leading cause of death for that age group.
Additionally, another 2,600 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for near-drowning incidents. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage.
Most of these children were being watched by parents at the time of the incident.
These kinds of accidents can happen extremely quickly and often don’t involve any obvious signs of a struggle, so please be hyper-aware and alert about your children’s safety around bodies of water this summer.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Smith family is requesting donations be sent to the Dell Children’s Medical Center in River’s name.
Our deepest condolences to the Smith family.
