The identity of a three-year-old who died after catching a rare infectious illness at a water park in Arlington, Texas has been revealed, as his parents announced they've sued the city for $1million.
Bakari Williams died on September 11 of amebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain-eating amoeba he caught at Don Misenhimer Park splash pad, but his death did not become public until September 27.
His parents, Tariq Williams and Kayla Mitchell have now said they're suing the city to create public awareness about the disease and how important water maintenance is at establishments frequented by children.
'For us this case is about public awareness. The last thing that we want is for anyone else and their family to have to feel and go through what we are going through at this time,' said the father.
The lawsuit has been filed in Tarrant County District Court.
Tariq Williams (left) and Kayla Mitchell (right) sued the city of Arlington after their three-year-old son Bakari died from a rare infectious illness he caught at a water park
Bakari Williams died on September 11 of amebic meningoencephalitis. His parents had taken him to Don Misenhimer Park splash pad three times. But after their last visit he got extremely sick
'If you're going to offer this form of public amusement, you've got to do it right,' the parents' attorney said. 'It's too serious not to. It's life and death'
'If you're going to offer this form of public amusement, you've got to do it right,' the parents' attorney said. 'It's too serious not to. It's life and death.'
The CDC ran tests for the bacteria in the park's splash pad, which came back positive. Local health officials found chlorine levels below state requirements at the park and suspicious gaps in the documentation of the park's water maintenance.
'On behalf of our family and our friends we just want you to know that Bakari was a loving, energetic, passionate, sweet, beautiful, innocent boy,' Williams said. 'He didn't deserve to die in this manner.'
Bakari died at Cook Children's Medical Center hospital.
His parents had taken him to Don Misenhimer Park in August and September without any inconvenience.
But on September 5, after a visit to Don Misenhimer, Bakari started feeling sick and had a 102-degree fever. His parents said he did not want to eat or drink anything.
'All he wanted to do was lay down,' Mitchell said. 'Nothing could knock him down, so I knew something was wrong,' she added.
She warned parents of children who showed similar symptoms after visiting a water park to 'forget about the urgent care center and go straight to the hospital.'
'All he wanted to do was lay down,' Bakari's mother said. 'Nothing could knock him down, so I knew something was wrong,' she added
'At 3 years old, a simple day of fun lead to tragedy...For a week, mom and dad sat by Bakari's hospital bed as he put up the ultimate fight. In the end, the battle was lost,' wrote Bakari's aunt in the despcription of a GoFundMe she created to cover funeral expenses and medical bills
'For us this case is about public awareness. The last thing that we want is for anyone else and their family to have to feel and go through what we are going through at this time,' said William
A GoFundMe organized by Bakari's aunt, Tracey Neal, is close to reaching the $5,000 goal to cover funeral expenses and medical bills.
'At 3 years old, a simple day of fun lead to tragedy...For a week, mom and dad sat by Bakari's hospital bed as he put up the ultimate fight. In the end, the battle was lost,' said Neal in the description.
