A 13-year-old Utah boy tragically lost his life when he was discovered with a tetherball rope encircling his neck. The incident occurred on the family’s farm in Venice, approximately 160 miles south of Salt Lake City, after Maximus Knight went missing on Saturday. This unfortunate event transpired as he was assisting in the cleanup of the Knights Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch.
Shortly thereafter, his family discovered him with the tetherball pole’s rope encircling his neck, as reported by the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. At that moment, he was unresponsive, lacking any signs of breathing or a pulse.
Dispatchers provided guidance to individuals present on the scene, instructing them on the proper administration of CPR, which ultimately led to the restoration of a pulse before paramedics arrived. Maximus was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital and subsequently airlifted to a medical center in Salt Lake City, where he was declared deceased.
The state medical examiner’s office will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the precise cause of death. However, Sheriff Nathan Curtis has stated that there were no indications of foul play or any suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Maximus was a beautiful, sweet and loving child who brought so much joy to his family and to his community. The youngest of his family, Maximus made every effort to impress his big brothers and care for those around him. Our hearts are broken as we struggle to make sense of this tragedy. We will forever mourn his passing. We are so amazed at the support given to this family, and want to thank everyone for their donations and kind words. At this time we have closed the donations and will assess the needs of the family,” his aunt, Laurie Ann Thor, penned a message on a GoFundMe page.
