Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
Emilie Kiser, the well-known social media and lifestyle influencer, has released a public statement, the first since her 3-year-old son, Trigg, drowned in the family’s backyard pool.
“Loss of this magnitude feels impossible to put into words,” Kiser said in a statement to her nearly 2 million Instagram followers. “I’ve spent days, weeks, months trying to find them and also take the time I’ve needed to digest the loss of my baby.”
Trigg died at the hospital after being in critical condition for several days following an incident at the family’s home in Chandler, Arizona, on May 12. Emergency responders were called out to the home around 6 p.m. after the boy was found unresponsive in the pool. He was rushed to Chandler Regional Medical Center before being transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
Various national media outlets have reported that Kiser was not home at the time of the incident and that her husband, Brady Kiser, was at home with Trigg and their infant, Theodore. Brady Kiser was allegedly “distracted by something” when Trigg fell into the pool.
After an investigation, police have concluded that Brady Kiser will not face any charges related to his son’s death. The boy was allegedly unsupervised near the water for nine minutes and fell into the pool after tripping while playing with an inflatable chair, according to police reports obtained by national media.
Kiser’s grief, she said, has been insurmountable and hopes her family’s story can “help prevent other children and families from suffering the same loss.”
“It’s a pain, heartache, and void that no family should ever have to endure,” she wrote. “I take full accountability as Trigg’s mother, and I know I should have done more to protect him. One of the hardest lessons I carry is that a permanent pool fence could have saved his life, and it’s something I will never overlook again.”
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with more than 48 years of experience across various practice areas in Florida, including premises liability and drowning cases. In 2023, at least 97 children drowned in the state, according to the Florida Department of Health. These incidents primarily occurred in swimming pools. There were about 60 drowning deaths in the state for the first half of 2024, according to the latest available data. Of the 60 people who tragically lost their lives, about 46 of them were children. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children under 5 years old.
Childhood drowning remains a critical concern in Florida, a state that draws millions of tourists each year. Among them, nearly 5 million make their way to Key West—home to one of Leesfield & Partners’ three offices, located on historic Whitehead Street. As summer nears and visitors begin their annual return, Leesfield & Partners recognizes the vital importance of drowning prevention strategies: swim instruction, secure pool environments and constant supervision of young children.
Tragically, for some families, even these precautions are not enough — turning what should be a joyful vacation into a devastating and preventable loss.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a historic settlement in a case involving a swimming pool incident at a Hotel Resort Orlando in Osceola County. In that case, our client’s son was swimming when he was caught in the suction of the pool’s drain. The child could not be removed because the hotel failed to have an emergency shut off switch.
For nearly 10 minutes, our client’s child remained underwater. As a result, he was later diagnosed with brain damage that would require life-long medical care. This case, which was handled by Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, is the largest result of its kind in Osceola County.
In another tragic drowning case, a husband and father lost his wife and two young children after the U.S. Navy failed to maintain its pier in a safe condition. This case, also handled by Mr. Leesfield, resulted in a $2.95 million wrongful death award for the grieving father.
Previously, the firm secured a seven-figure settlement for a family whose toddler drowned in South Florida. In that case, an inadequately installed child safety fence around the pool was found at the home.
Water Safety Tips
- Keep toys away from the pool when not in use to prevent children from falling into the water when potentially trying to reach for them.
- Always completely remove a pool cover before jumping in to use the pool
- Make sure all external doors leading to a pool area or body of water like a lake or ocean are equipped with proper locks and alarms that way, even if a child manages to unlock the door, you will know that it has been opened.
- Dress children in brightly colored swimsuits so that, if the unthinkable happens, they are easier to spot in the water.
- Never leave a child unattended near a body of water.
- Children who cannot swim should always wear a life vest and be in the water with an adult.
- All pools should be equipped with child safety fences and locks.
- Invest in swimming classes and water safety courses for children and adults. No one expects tragedy but knowing what to do in case of an emergency can save a life.
- Take a CPR course to know what to do in case of an emergency.
