12-Year-Old Black Boy Sadly Dies From Rare Brain-Eating Bacteria After Swimming in Lake

Nationwide — Jaysen Carr, a 12-year-old African American boy from Columbia, South Carolina, died after getting infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba while swimming in Lake Murray. His family is now seeking answers and raising awareness.

Jaysen was a student at Hand Middle School in Richland County. He swam in Lake Murray over the weekend and later contracted Naegleria fowleri, a deadly amoeba that can enter the body through the nose and attack the brain.

According to ABC News 4, the Carr family has hired Columbia attorney Tyler Bailey to investigate Jaysen’s death privately. In a statement, Bailey said the family is heartbroken but thankful for the community’s support. They want to understand how this happened and work to stop it from happening to other families.

The Carr family also thanked the doctors and nurses at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Midlands, where Jaysen received care. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve.

A GoFundMe set up for the family has raised over $52,000 to help cover unexpected expenses. The page describes Jaysen as “an incredible son, a devoted brother, and a true friend,” and says his kind spirit touched everyone he met.

The family hopes to bring attention to health risks tied to freshwater lakes in South Carolina so other families don’t go through the same loss.