The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘HE’S A HERO’
GoFundMe set up for MHS student who drowned after saving siblings
MIDDLETOWN — A GoFundMe account set to help pay the funeral expenses of 17-year-old Khailon Rivers, who drowned in the Connecticut River earlier this week, exceeded its goal by nearly $5,000 in one day.
Rivers, a Middletown High School student, was at Haddam Meadows State Park with his family Monday evening when he drowned after jumping into the water to save his younger siblings who were in distress.
The organizers of the drive, “Khailon’s funeral expenses,” said on the page that the family lost “a huge part of us.” “Our dear Khailon Rivers jumped in the water to save
his two little brothers from drowning, and he got pulled under and didn’t have enough strength to come back up.”
Rivers was the “funniest, most caring person ever,” and cherished his family above all, the organizer wrote. “Anything anyone can donate will help us put our baby boy to rest.”
Diving crews from surrounding towns searched for Rivers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, when his body was recovered, officials said.
Middletown Planning and Zoning Commissioner Shanay Fulton knew the young man through the
school system, as well as her work at the North End Action Team.
“It’s a tough loss. I’m happy his last words to myself and my best friend Tanjah were, ‘I love y’all, I’m doing well. I appreciate everything you guys did for me. When I make it, I’ll come back for you.’ ”
“All we said was we love you, too, just take care of yourself. Then he hugged us and walked away. A few days later, he’s gone,” Fulton said.
“It’s a horrible loss,” said Assistant Principal Raymond Byron, who called Rivers a “great kid.”
“I keep thinking about him,” said Byron, who recalled Rivers having a great sense of humor, and always cracking jokes.
“That was how he was. That was just him. It’s so sad he lost his life, but he is a hero,” Raymond Byron, Middletown High Assistant Principal
Rivers, who would stop by Byron’s office for snacks, had a “bubbly” personality, he said. The teen played football during his first year at MHS, and later tried out for the basketball team.
The 17-year-old had hopes of moving on to higher education to study medicine. He was considering first joining the military to take advantage of the Army College Fund, Byron said.
Middletown Superintendent of Schools Michael Conner said Wednesday the entire district was mourning.
“It has been a very difficult year overall for Middletown Public Schools, with the pandemic, the impact on families, and a variety of student deaths,” he said.
Conner is organizing a team to offer support to students and others affected by the tragedy, he said.
The assistant principal was not at all surprised to learn Rivers placed his siblings’ lives above his own. “That was how he was. That was just him. It’s so sad he lost his life, but he is a hero,” Byron said.
The GoFundMe drive can be found at gofundme.com.