LYONS – A small Nebraska town is grappling with the tragic loss of a 9-year-old child, Kendrix Brehmer.
Brehmer drowned after wandering away from his school playground. Kendrix, who had autism and was mostly nonverbal, was playing at recess on Monday when he managed to slip away from his supervisor.
“They said no one could find him,” said his father, Matthew Brehmer. The community, including Kendrix’s family, launched a desperate search, which ended when his uncle discovered him in a lagoon about three-quarters of a mile from Northeast Elementary School in Lyons.
“I lost all feeling from my legs, and I just collapsed to the ground,” Matthew Brehmer said, recalling the moment he learned his son had been found.
Kendrix was rushed to a hospital in West Point, and later flown to Children’s Hospital in Omaha, where he was placed on life support. He was pronounced dead on Tuesday.
“Just happy that we were able to find him and we were able to spend… one final day with him by his side,” said Matthew Brehmer. “And I got to hold his hand as he breathed his final breaths.”
He expressed desire to prevent similar tragedies, hoping that Kendrix’s death will raise awareness about autism and the importance of vigilant care.
“I just want to be able to save other kids. And I don’t want other kids to go through the same exact thing, I don’t want other parents to go through this,” he said.
KETV/CNN Newsource/WKRC
