HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — SwimRVA North remains closed Tuesday as Henrico Police investigate the death of a 9-year-old boy who was found unresponsive at the facility's summer camp Monday around 2:30 p.m.
The child has been identified as King Overton. His mother, LaTaisha Johnson, took to social media to share her grief.
"King was our everything. He was the love of our lives our heart our joy and our reason for so much," King's mother posted on social media. "The pain we are feeling right now is unbearable and there are no words that can truly describe what we’re going through."
Officers were called to SwimRVA-North, located at 317 North Wilkinson Road, around 2:30 p.m. for a reported medical emergency.
SwimRVA officials said camp staff immediately began CPR and continued lifesaving efforts until paramedics and Henrico County firefighters took over.
King, a participant in the SwimRVA-North summer camp, was taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.
"He was the smallest kid with the biggest heart," King's mother shared in a message to CBS 6. "Yesterday, at approximately, 8:17 a.m.. I told my son I love him the most for the very last time."
SwimRVA Executive Director Adam Kennedy said the nonprofit organization is cooperating fully with authorities reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Our hearts are with the child’s family and loved ones during this loss,” Kennedy said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences and are keeping them and all those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts.”
Police are working with the medical examiner’s office to determine the cause and manner of death.
Tommy Golden, president of the Lakeside Swim & Racquet Club, said the swim community is feeling the weight of the loss.
Golden said the Lakeside Swim & Racquet Club stepped in to host the swim meet, closing its pool at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the wake of King's death.
"After talking to our board of directors, we felt that it was absolutely the right thing to do to close our pool early to hold the meet here just to take any pressure off of SwimRVA that right now they need to have their thoughts and prayers with the family at Lakeside. We're here to do whatever we can do to make things run smoothly," Golden said.
Golden said he understands the fear and grief families with young children learning to swim are feeling and encouraged them to trust swim clubs across the greater Richmond area and to be closely involved with them.
"There are folks here at all of our swim communities who really do care about the safety of your child. Their swimming abilities. Lifeguard swim coaches, pool managers, all of the above," Golden said.
SwimRVA said it is setting up grief counseling and support and will provide that information to its community soon.
A GoFundMe has been established for a service for King.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
📲: CONNECT WITH US
Blue Sky | Facebook | Instagram | X | Threads | TikTok | YouTube
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about how we use AI in our newsroom, click here.
