The 2-year-old son of a former BYU football standout has drowned in a heartbreaking tragedy, the family has revealed.
Ex-Cougars running back Curtis Brown, his wife Kim and their other four children are now mourning the loss of young Haze, who drowned at their home pool in Clovis, California on July 26, according to authorities.
A panicked family member phoned 911 after discovering Haze’s body, according to the Deseret News. Emergency responders rushed Haze to a nearby hospital, where he regained a ‘flicker of a heartbeat’ before ultimately passing.
Further details about the incident have not been revealed.
‘It’s an extremely unfortunate situation,’ Clovis Police Department spokesman Ty Wood said, as quoted by the New York Post. ‘Adults should never let children swim unsupervised and should always learn CPR and keep safety and rescue equipment nearby.’
The Fresno County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has confirmed Haze’s drowning to The Daily Mail. An autopsy is pending, which has complicated funeral arrangements for the grieving family. The Daily Mail has sought further information with the department.
Ex-Cougars running back Curtis Brown, his wife Kim and their other four children are now mourning the loss of young Haze, who drowned at their home pool in Clovis, California
Kim and Chris Brown are seen with their five children, including 2-year-old Haze (right)
Young Haze gets some love from his older brothers. The Brown family lives in Clovis, CA
In the meantime, family, friends and even the BYU football community has rallied in support of the Browns. Former Cougars quarterback John Beck posted a link to a GoFundMe page, where the family is raising money to cover funeral costs and other expenses.
‘The Brown family has experienced an unimaginable loss,’ read the GoFundMe page. ‘Kim and Curtis recently lost their miracle baby, Haze, in a tragic drowning accident. No words can ease the heartbreak they are facing as they grieve the loss of their precious son.’
As of Wednesday evening, the family’s GoFundMe had raised nearly $80,000 of the $100,000 goal.
Utah State head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who was Curtis’ coach at BYU, has also reached out to the family, friend Chandler Pearson told the Deseret News. Pearson added that dozens of others connected to BYU football have also reached out.
Running back Curtis Brown left BYU as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,193 yards
‘They are completely leaning on each other, their friends, and their faith right now,’ Pearson told the Deseret News. ‘They are completely rocked and will be for quite some time.
‘The other children [are a bit older] and they felt like another baby was waiting for them,’ Pearson added. ‘Little Haze brought so much joy and light to the family. Obviously, they are absolutely devastated. We all are.’
Brown left BYU as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,193 yards. Although he would get a taste of NFL training camp, he never made a league roster and now works in pharmaceutical sales in Clovis.
