ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A joyful afternoon of play turned into a family’s worst nightmare when 8-year-old Cortez “CJ” Williams Jr. tragically lost his life after a backyard swing set collapsed at his mother’s home on Larimore Road in north St. Louis County. The boy, remembered by his family as lively and full of laughter, passed away despite efforts to save him.
The Accident
CJ’s father, Cortez Williams Sr., described the heartbreaking chain of events. Shortly after the swing set’s metal crossbar fell on CJ, trapping him briefly, family members freed him. At first, CJ seemed to have only minor injuries and appeared alert.
“They said he was talking, responding, asking for water and something to eat,” Williams recalled. “The only thing he kept saying was that he wanted to go to sleep.”
For nearly an hour, CJ seemed unharmed, walking around the home while his mother prepared food. Tragically, he collapsed and became unresponsive. Emergency responders were called around 6 p.m., and despite being rushed to the hospital, CJ was pronounced dead. The exact cause of death is pending an autopsy.
Family Grief and Heartbreak
Williams, who was out of town for work, shared the devastating moment he learned about the accident.
“The only thing that was going through my mind was to make it home to him,” he said. “Now I gotta bury my 8-year-old.”
The loss is particularly crushing for Williams, who also lost his eldest son in 2018 at age 21.
“It’s pain that’ll never go away,” he said. “Because of his age… it’s just something that’ll never leave.”
Family and friends remember CJ as a joyful, loving child who enjoyed soccer, scary movies with his dad, and making everyone around him smile.
Safety Message
Williams is urging parents to take all accidents seriously, no matter how minor they appear.
“Any little thing happen with your kids, just take them to the hospital. 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.”
The tragedy highlights the importance of safety around home playground equipment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that approximately 50,000 children visit emergency rooms annually due to injuries on home playgrounds. While most injuries are minor, some can be fatal when equipment tips, breaks, or traps children.
Investigation
St. Louis County Police are investigating CJ’s death as an accidental death. Authorities are working with the medical examiner to determine the exact cause while the Williams family makes funeral arrangements.
“We hope that sharing CJ’s story will raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies,” Williams said.
CJ would have turned nine next month, leaving behind a grieving family and community who remember him as a bright, loving child whose memory will live on.
Reported by NewsPulse Reporter | NewsPulse Media