A 9-year-old boy diagnosed with autism is dead after leaving his Nebraska school during recess and drowning in a nearby lagoon.
On Monday, April 28, Matthew Brehmer told WOWT that his son, Kendrix Brehmer, managed to leave the grounds during playtime at Northeast Elementary School in Lyons. Kendrix was in third grade.
The grieving father told the news station that the school’s superintendent, Lindsey Beaudette, called him directly to let him know Kendrix had run away.
“I’ve never been more afraid in my life,” he said.
He was told that his little boy, who was non-verbal, opened a school gate and ran off of the property.
“I know that he’s just incredibly quick and sometimes he’s hard to catch up with,” Brehmer said, adding, “I just knew we were gonna have problems finding him.”
He immediately jumped on his four-wheeler and began searching for Kendrix within their community of about 800 residents.
Approximately one hour later, Brehmer’s uncle found Kendrix in the lagoon of a nearby park.
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“I lost all feeling in my legs. Just collapsed to the ground. Just didn’t know what to do with myself at that moment,” the dad told the news station.
Kendrix was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead and taken off life support. He died surrounded by his family, according to his obituary.
“He’s just a special kid,” Brehmer said of his son. “Everybody loved him. And he loved everyone.”
Through his sadness and loss, the Nebraska resident shared a simple plea: “I just don’t want this to happen to any more kids.”
He added, “I just want answers. I want to know how he got away.”
Beaudette issued a statement to the news station, calling Kendrix’s death “a tragic accident.”
She said emergency responders arrived on the scene where the boy was found and provided assistance on-site before he was transported for additional care.
“We are keeping the student’s family in our thoughts as they process through the tragic event. We are also offering support services for students, staff, and families during this difficult time,” she wrote. “The Lyons-Decatur school community is strong and caring, and we know we will continue to support one another in the days ahead. We are conducting our own investigation of the incident and cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities as they review the circumstances of the incident.”
Beaudette concluded, “Out of respect for the family and the ongoing process, no further information will be shared at this time. We are grateful for the compassion and understanding of our community.”
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