For the first time, we’re hearing from the family of the 6-year-old boy who nearly drowned at a summer camp in D.C.
Adonis Jackson’s family shared photos of the child in a pediatric intensive care unit, where they said they is sedated and intubated. They said they’re committed to pursuing justice for what happened.
Adonis was participating in a summer soccer camp at the University of the District of Columbia. A police report obtained by News4 said Adonis nearly drowned while the pool’s lifeguard was on break.
“Our family is profoundly grateful for the overwhelming concern and support from the public. Your prayers and kindness have sustained us through the darkest hours of our lives,” they said in part, through their attorney. “The painful reality is that we do not yet know what his future holds. While we remain prayerful that Adonis will recover, his road ahead is long and uncertain. We are fully committed to pursuing justice for him, and we are cooperating with authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
Attorney Dominique Calhoun spoke about what Adonis’ family is going through.
“It’s one of the most devastating things as a parent that you ever have to witness, and then to have to see it,” he said. “They just want the world to know what they’re going through and what they’re experiencing.”
A UDC police report obtained by News4 says Adonis was one of about 30 children in the pool on the school’s campus on Monday afternoon. The little boy was attending a Nike Soccer Camp with FourSoccer. According to the police report, kids were allowed to go into the pool.
News4 has been trying to speak with FourSoccer’s director, Ben Mortimer, for days. He has yet to return multiple calls, emails and texts.
A News4 viewer whose child also is enrolled in the soccer camp said she feels like the email parents received from FourSoccer underplayed what happened. In the email, Mortimer wrote in part that, “A camper experienced a medical emergency in the water.”
He went on to say,” “I am relieved to share that they’re expected to be okay.”
The email also said, “The University is completing its standard incident reporting process and reviewing the circumstances surrounding today’s event, we are working closely with them”
News4 also called two camp counselors and UDC’s lifeguard manager. They also did not answer. News4 reached out to UDC with a series of questions, including on where the investigation stands and the lifeguard coverage. We have yet to receive any answers.
UDC released a statement Tuesday saying they were deeply saddened about what happened, and that their thoughts were with the child and his family.
News4 also reached out to Nike, whose branding is featured in the camp’s name and the camp’s logos. We have yet to hear back.
Adonis’ family attorney said they’re still in the dark about many things.
“We don’t know why these children were allowed to be in an environment, in a body of water, without an adult present and without the proper supervision. We don’t know why anyone would allow that to happen,” Calhoun said.
The family said they hope to provide an update on Adonis’ condition early next week, as they continue to ask for prayers.
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