Popular blogger and influencer Emilie Kiser has issued a raw and emotional plea to parents, describing the drowning death of her three-year-old son Trigg as entirely preventable. The tragic incident occurred on May 18, 2025, in Chandler, Arizona, when the toddler was found unresponsive in the family's backyard pool.
A Mother's Unbearable Grief
In a series of heartfelt Instagram posts marking ten months since the tragedy, Kiser opened up about the profound pain that has defined her life since losing her son. "Today is officially ten months since we lost our son Trigg to a preventable drowning accident," the 27-year-old mother wrote. "I continue to feel like I have no words in what to say when I'm asked how I feel because the only adequate word is 'broken.'"
Kiser described the daily struggle of living without her child, emphasizing how much she misses his joyful presence. "I miss him so much. Everything about him. Especially the joy and light he brought to our home," she shared. The influencer explained that writing about her emotions has become a crucial part of her grieving process since returning to social media in September.
The Tragic Details of That Fateful Day
According to a Chandler police report, Trigg was left unsupervised in the backyard for more than nine minutes on the day he died. Tragically, he spent approximately seven of those minutes drowning in the pool before being discovered. Kiser's husband, Brady, was responsible for watching Trigg at the time but admitted to authorities that he stepped inside to watch an NBA playoff game on which he had placed a $25 bet.
The child was found unconscious in the pool and could not be revived immediately. He was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he remained for six days before being declared dead. Brady Kiser was not charged with any wrongdoing following the incident.
A Preventable Tragedy
Kiser emphasized repeatedly that her son's death could have been avoided with proper safety measures. "It's apparent to everyone who has ever heard HIS story, that it was preventable," the influencer wrote in her emotional post. She noted that while she could talk for hours about her beloved son, her primary motivation for speaking out was to highlight critical water safety awareness.
The grieving mother finds bittersweet comfort in seeing aspects of Trigg in his younger brother, Theodore, who is about one year old. "One of the hardest parts about the last ten months, although I can't possibly pick just one, is having to live without him," she confessed. "Some people might read that as obvious, but it's a daily mountain I have to climb."
Essential Safety Recommendations
Kiser used her platform to urge all parents to implement crucial safety measures around swimming pools and other bodies of water. Her recommendations include:
- Installing proper pool fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates
- Enrolling children in swimming lessons from an early age
- Maintaining constant adult supervision when children are near water
- Learning CPR and basic water rescue techniques
These precautions are supported by research, including a Harvard Health study that found children as young as one year old can learn to keep their heads above water and recover if they fall in. Kiser previously used her Instagram platform during the holiday season to stress the importance of vigilance around water, particularly during gatherings when supervision might become distracted.
The influencer's tragic story serves as a powerful reminder that drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death among young children, and that simple preventive measures can save lives. Her willingness to share her personal tragedy, despite the pain it causes her, demonstrates a commitment to ensuring other families don't experience similar heartbreak.
