Family issue fresh statement after boy, 12, died contracting brain-eating amoeba while swimming in lake

The grieving family of a boy who died after contracting a brain-eating amoeba from a lake have made a touching tribute to the youngster.

In July this year, Jaysen Carr tragically died after taking a dip in the man-made Lake Murray in South Carolina.

During the Fourth of July celebratory swim, the 12-year-old reportedly came into contact with a deadly brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, a free-living ameba that thrives in fresh waters.

According to the CDC, the amoeba typically lives in soil and warm, freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds and hot springs all over the world, yet if it manages to enter the blood stream of a human being, it can cause an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, which eats away at brain tissue.

While brain infections are considered rare, they are almost always fatal, with most dying within one to 18 days after succumbing to the infection.

The amoeba has claimed 163 lives between 1962 and 2024 in the US.

Now, Jaysen's heartbroken family and friends are dealing with the tragedy, and recently decided to go ahead with his 13th birthday bash in his honor on Friday, October 3.

His mom, Ebony Carr, told WLTX: "We always gave him an option of a birthday party or a family trip, and he always chose to go to the beach.

"He said that he was going to wait until his 13th birthday to have a party, and we still have it, even though he’s not here.”

During the heartwarming day at the trampoline park, friends and family all wore blue 'Team Jaysen' t-shirts emblazoned with sports equipment in a nod to the youngster's love of baseball, basketball, and football.

Jaysen was just 12 years old when he died from a brain infection (GoFundMe)

All the proceeds from the party went to Jaysen Carr Be a Good Human Foundation, a charity his family set up in his memory to help fund scholarships for student athletes to Dreher High School.

Jaysen's father, Clarence Carr, explained about the foundation in his son's memory: "It takes minimal effort to be a good human.

"It's so much energy and effort to be bad, so why not treat someone the right way? Embrace your differences and come together and find a way to coexist."

The tribute came as the young athlete's family have been diligently raising awareness to the largely unknown risks of amoeba.

His parents are raising awareness to the risks (News 19 WLTX)

At the time of his son's death, Clarence said in a statement: “I can't believe we don't have our son. The result of him being a child was losing his life. That does not sit well. And I am terrified it will happen to someone else.

"My son lost his life swimming. We assumed it was safe.”

When Jaysen came home from swimming in the lake, he reported suffering from a headache and feeling sick.

He was eventually rushed to hospital with what they believed was a 'routine headache', but died days later in the ICU after a 'fierce fight'.