A Blackwood family is in shock after 3-year-old Elijah Stephen drowned in a private backyard pool on Saturday. His father, Michael, whom the family describes as a police officer, pulled Elijah from the water and started chest compressions before paramedics rushed the boy to a nearby hospital. Doctors were able to briefly restore Elijah’s heartbeat, but later told the family that swelling in his brain meant there was no realistic chance of recovery.
In a raw Facebook post, Michael recounted how he and his wife, Sandi, bolted outside after spotting their twin daughter wet in the kitchen, only to find Elijah floating face down in the pool. “I wasn't fast enough. I failed,” he wrote. His wife, Sandra, shared her own heartbreak online, posting, “I’m so sorry I failed you and couldn’t protect you,” according to Daily Voice.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to help the family, listing Brittnie Hutchinson as the organizer. The page notes that Elijah leaves behind his twin sister, Ella, and an older brother, Mickey, and describes Mike as a veteran and police officer and Sandi as an elementary school teacher. According to the fundraiser’s description on GoFundMe, the campaign shows roughly $29,340 raised toward a $35,000 goal and includes a note about the family’s immediate needs.
Organ donation and family update
Michael said doctors were able to briefly bring back Elijah’s heartbeat at the hospital but added that “the swelling of the brain is too much too soon,” warning that the family would likely lose their son in the coming days. He also shared that Elijah’s organs were being prepared for donation, a detail reported by Daily Voice as the family posted updates online.
How these tragedies happen and how to reduce risk
Drowning remains a leading cause of death for young children in the United States, and public health officials note that most fatal drownings among toddlers happen in swimming pools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges families to use multiple layers of protection, including four-sided pool fencing with self-closing gates, constant “touch” supervision for toddlers, formal swim lessons when appropriate, and caregiver CPR training, since drownings can happen quickly and quietly, according to the CDC.
The GoFundMe campaign, titled “Support for Eli's Family After Tragedy,” features the organizer’s note, the running donation total, and regular updates on the effort. The fundraiser lays out the family’s immediate needs as they navigate their loss and plan memorial arrangements, according to GoFundMe.
