11-Year-Old Daughter of MLS Ex-goalkeeper Killed during Family Vacation: ‘We Are Still in Disbelief’

Former New England Revolution goalkeeper Brad Knighton recently shared the shocking news that his eleven-year-old daughter passed away in South Carolina last Wednesday. Knighton shared a public update about his family's tragic loss.

Brad Knighton's daughter, Olivia, had been on a 23-foot boat on the Intracoastal Waterway near Little River near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina when nine of the twelve occupants aboard the ship went overboard. The vessel had been rocked by a wave caused by the wake of another boat.

Olivia was one of the nine people who went overboard. Although none of the other eight were injured in the process, Olivia was struck by a propeller and rushed to McLeod Seacoast Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Olivia's autopsy is scheduled for Friday as authorities continue an in-depth inquiry into the incident which is said to include statements from eye-witnesses and a thorough assessment of the boat Olivia was on.

Much investigation still needs to be conducted as it remains unclear exactly what happened leading up to the tragic event.

Even as the legalities remain well underway, those close to the family share their grief. The Knighton family is heartbroken, and her family continues to mourn her loss. Brad Knighton shared:

"Our family is still in shock at the sudden and tragic loss of our beautiful and brilliant daughter, Olivia."

Olivia's Parents' Words About Her Death

Brad took to Instagram the day after the incident to share with the public the gut-wrenching news. He wrote that his daughter had tragically passed away in a boating accident the day before, and the family was deeply saddened by the sudden loss.

He mentioned that the family would get through the heartache they were feeling together, but admitted:

"We are still in disbelief."

Brad went on to share that his daughter had loved soccer and Brad's club with all her heart. He pleaded with his fans to share their prayers and love with the family during this difficult time, as they felt they needed the love and support of his fans now more than ever.

Brad ended the post by saying that the family loved Olivia. It wasn't long before comments filled with love, prayers, and condolences began pouring in for Brad and his family.

One commenter admitted they had been near the scene just after the accident had taken place, but they weren't able to get to Olivia or the boat to help anyone, and the best they could do was phone 911.

The commenter said they wished they could enfold the entire Knighton family in a hug and admitted that they had cried many times because they wished they could have done more to help Olivia on the scene.

The commenter assured Brad that he and his family would be part of their prayers for many more years. Many celebrities also commented, sharing words of love and prayers with the Knighton family as they grappled with the loss.

Fans also took to the comments to ensure Brad knew that he and his family were in their prayers and that they wanted nothing more than for Brad to understand how loved Olivia was by those that knew her and those who had watched her grow up through the lens of her father's fame.

Many talked about what a bright, bubbly little girl Olivia was and said how much they enjoyed seeing her become the person she was. Others offered words of condolence or commented with emojis of white doves and praying hands.

Brad's Former Team Dedicated A Touching Tribute to Olivia During Their Game

While tributes from fans and those close to the family poured in for Olivia on her father's post, another touching tribute was dedicated to her by her father's former soccer team during their game.

On Saturday night, just days after it was announced that little Olivia had lost her life, her father's former soccer club played a game against New York Red Bulls in New Jersey.

For the game's duration, the Revolution players wore black arm bands to signify their mourning and solidarity with the Knighton family. The players also held up a special jersey adorned with Olivia's name in honor of the little girl.

Revolution snapped some photos of their shows of solidarity and took to Twitter to share them with the world. The caption accompanying the images the team posted read:

"You're with us always, Olivia."

Not only did her father's former team pay tribute to her, but the team they played against did too. The New York Red Bulls shared a photo of Olivia on their video board as the teams rivaled one another.

Brad, now the coach of the U-19 Revolution Academy team, shared his sincere thanks to both teams for sharing their love and solidarity with the family during this heart-wrenching time. He said: "We are so thankful for everyone's continued prayers, love, and support for our angel."

The students at Olivia's school, some of whom commented on Revolution's Twitter post, have been offered trauma and grief counseling to come to terms with the sudden loss of their schoolmate.

Others who commented on Revolution's Twitter post included fans and celebrities who support the club. Many shared heartfelt condolences, and others talked about how heartbreaking it was that she had passed.

One fan asked if there was any way that all fans could get black armbands for the next game so they, too, could show their support for the family as they mourned the loss of their little girl.

Many remarked on how beautiful the tribute to Olivia was and said that the beauty of the tribute matched the beauty of Olivia. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Knighton family during this heartbreaking time.

Subscribe to AmoMama on Google News!