Emilie Kiser urges parents to 'get a pool fence' as she pays tribute to her son Trigg six months after he died in drowning accident
Emilie Kiser has urged other parents to ‘get a pool fence’ as she marked six months since the death of her three-year-old son Trigg.
The mum influencer posted a lengthy statement to her Instagram and TikTok pages yesterday (Wednesday November 12).
She wrote: “The second it hit midnight this morning it’s like my body knew. What felt like any ordinary day six months ago turned into the worst moments of my entire life. The day my son Trigg drowned.
“I miss him with every fiber of my being,” continued Emilie in the post. “Every ounce of me yearns to hold him again, hug him again, tell him how special he is, and how much I love him. I miss his voice, his hugs, his smile, his laugh, the way he added a ‘k’ sound to any word ending with the letter ‘s’ and the way he lit up every room he walked into.”
She went on to offer advice to “save families from the pain of losing a child to a preventable accident, such as drowning”, giving four statements. First, she told parents to watch their parents at “all times”, then she urged families to "get a pool fence," and enroll their children in swim lessons once they reach six months old. Her final statement read: “Please take every precaution possible around water with your children, drowning is quick and preventable.”
26-year-old Emilie’s eldest son, three-year-old Trigg died in a drowning accident in a pool in the backyard of the family home in Chandler, Arizona, in May. Emilie’s husband Brady was home alone with his two sons at the time of the drowning. He told police that he had lost sight of his son for three to five minutes before discovering him in the pool, though a report by the Chandler Police Department later cited video evidence that Trigg "was in the backyard unsupervised for more than nine minutes, and in the water for about seven of those minutes."
Emilie, who had posted almost daily about her life prior to the tragedy, did not post anything in the weeks and months that followed. At the end of August, she broke her silence by posting a written statement in which she took “full accountability” for her eldest son’s death.
At the end of September, however, Emile, who is also mum to now seven-month-old Teddy, shared the first video of herself that had been recorded since the tragedy and announced her intention to return to posting online more frequently.
According the the CPD’s incident report, the Kiser’s swimming pool was usually protected by a net-like cover, though it had been removed shortly before Trigg’s death for an upcoming cleaning which had been scheduled the day after the incident. As per the report, there were many children’s toys throughout the back garden and at the bottom of the pool and "no pool gate or barrier was in place at the time" of the incident.
Emilie concluded her post: “I know statistically Trigg’s drowning won’t be the last, and more have happened since. I miss him daily, I love him forever, and I hope I can spread even an ounce of the joy he gifted to us and everyone he crossed paths with each day.”
The star received many messages of support. Love is Blind star Jess Vestal said: “Please know we will never get tired of you talking about him or sharing your healing journey, however that looks and feels for you on any given day. Your strength and vulnerability is so admirable, I hope you know how amazing of a mother and woman you are. I love you.”
Fellow influencer Kenedy Cradic said: “You’re such a strong woman and mommy. So so much love for you!!” Her sister Meghan wrote: “Love you and our sweet baby forever and always” with a love heart emoji.
Some people also wrote how Emilie’s tragedy had impacted them. “Your story made me have a fence company come out the same day. Also enrolled all my kids in weekly lessons,” one person said. Emilie replied and said “I’m so glad you did this.”