VENICE, UT – A heartbreaking death struck a Utah family when a 13-year-old boy, Maximus Knight, was found lifeless with a tetherball rope wrapped around his neck in what authorities have termed a “tragic accident” on their farm.
The unfortunate incident occurred after Maximus had assisted in cleaning the Knights Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch on their farm in Venice, located about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City. He went missing on Saturday, and shortly thereafter, his family discovered him with the tetherball pole’s rope around his neck. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office reported that he was found without signs of breathing or a pulse.
Dispatchers provided instructions to individuals at the scene on how to perform CPR before paramedics arrived, eventually managing to restore a pulse. Maximus was then rushed to a local hospital and subsequently airlifted to a medical facility in Salt Lake City. He was pronounced dead at the medical facility, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
The state medical examiner’s office will conduct an investigation to determine the young boy’s precise cause of death. However, Sheriff Nathan Curtis stated that there were no indications of foul play or suspicious activity.
Maximus Knight’s family expressed their profound grief in a GoFundMe page created by his aunt Laurie Ann Thor. Describing Maximus as a “beautiful, sweet, and loving child” who brought immense joy to his family and community, Thor wrote, “Our hearts are broken as we struggle to make sense of this tragedy. We will forever mourn his passing.”
The GoFundMe campaign, initiated to assist the family with expenses, garnered substantial support, raising more than $25,000. Laurie Ann Thor expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support. Friends of Maximus Knight remembered him as a compassionate and protective companion.