A 7-year-old Wichita boy has died nearly a week after drowning in a hotel pool, leaving his family devastated and searching for answers. Zaniriusz Chambers Jr. passed away on Wednesday, nearly six days after being pulled unresponsive from the pool at the Red Roof Inn located in the 7300 block of East Kellogg.
His mother, Lauren Wilson, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a phone call with The Wichita Eagle. Police were called to the hotel on the evening of May 1 at 9:24 p.m. for what was described as a “public accident.” Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and transported the child to a local hospital, according to a police media report.
He remained hospitalized until his death. Wilson said her son was under the care of family members at the time of the incident and that he was not supposed to be at the hotel pool. She explained to KSN that a close friend had picked her son up from the family member’s house without her knowledge while she was working a double shift.
“When they pulled him out, they said he was in the pool for a long time,” Wilson said. “He lost too much oxygen to his brain. They did CPR for 45 minutes.” Wilson added that Zaniriusz had to be revived twice and was placed on life support due to severe brain swelling.
“The swelling of his brain was so severe that there was no way to bring him back,” she said. “I’m just hurt, and I want answers. I have a lot of emotion built up.” Police confirmed that the child was in the care of relatives at the time and said the incident remains under investigation. No additional details have been released.
Zaniriusz Jr. was a first grader at Caldwell Elementary School, where he was known for his love of learning, especially in math. “He was a sweetheart, man,” said his father, Zaniriusz Chambers Sr “He was a very smart, bright kid.” He described his son as someone who loved electronics, calling him “kind of a nerd” and “versatile with his intelligence.”
Zaniriusz also enjoyed dancing, and his favorite foods were pizza and chicken. His mother shared that he dreamed of becoming a boxer, inspired by his stepfather, who also boxes. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover medical expenses and support the grieving family during this difficult time.
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