Nationwide — Cortez “CJ” Williams Jr., an 8-year-old African American boy from St. Louis County, Missouri, died after a backyard swing set collapsed on him. Though he first appeared fine, his condition suddenly worsened, and he never woke up.
CJ was playing at his mother’s home on Larimore Road on Sunday when the swing set tipped over, according to KSDK. The heavy crossbar pinned his thigh until relatives pulled him free. He was alert afterward, talking, asking for water, and even requesting food.
His father, Cortez Williams Sr., was away for work when he received a FaceTime call from his daughter. She cried as she told him that CJ wasn’t responding. He had dropped his son off at his mother’s home that morning.
Family members said CJ showed no serious injuries aside from a small scratch on his stomach. They thought he was just tired. After lying down for a short nap, he tried to get up, collapsed again, and soon became unresponsive.
St. Louis County Police said first responders arrived at the home around 6 p.m. CJ was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead. The medical examiner will determine the cause of his death. Police are treating the case as an accidental death.
The tragedy comes after another devastating loss for Williams. His oldest son was shot and killed in 2018 at the age of 21. Now, he must bury his 8-year-old son, who would have turned 9 next month.
“It’s pain that’ll never go away. Because of his age… it’s just something that’ll never leave,” Williams said, remembering how his son loved food, scary movies, and was looking forward to starting soccer.
“He was a joyful kid,” Williams said. “He’d make anybody smile and laugh and love him.”
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 50,000 children are treated each year in U.S. emergency rooms for playground equipment injuries. Most involve falls, but some result in death when structures collapse or trap children.
Williams now urges parents to get medical help after any accident, even if it seems minor. “Any little thing happen with your kids, just take them to the hospital,” he said. “The risk of not taking them is… you see the pain I’m in, it’s a bad risk. I don’t want anybody to have to go through this. I’m trying my best, but it’s hard.”