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Former BYU Cougars football player Curtis Brown and his family, including his wife Kim, are grieving after a horrific drowning accident that led to the death of their two-year-old son Haze.
Haze tragically drowned in the pool at the Brown family’s residence in Clovis, Calif., on July 26, police told the New York Post.
A GoFundMe page was started by Chandler Pearson, a family friend, who wrote on the page that the Brown family is dealing with an “unbelievable loss.”
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Haze Brown, the two-year-old son of former BYU Cougars running back Curtis Brown, tragically died in a drowning accident on July 26. (GoFundMe)
“Kim and Curtis recently lost their miracle baby, Haze, in a tragic drowning accident. No words can ease the heartache they face as they grieve the loss of their precious son,” Pearson wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Many of you know and love Kim, Curtis and their family and have reached out asking how you can support them during this incredibly difficult time. A meaningful way to help is by contributing to this GoFundMe campaign. Your donation will help ease the financial burden of funeral expenses and other unexpected costs so the Brown family can focus on healing and being together.
“Every act of kindness, no matter the size, reminds them that they are surrounded by a community that loves them deeply. Thank you for your generosity, compassion and support during this heartbreaking time.”
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The New York Post added that a family member found Haze unresponsive in the pool and immediately called 911, prompting police, EMTs and firefighters to arrive on the scene.
CPR was attempted on the toddler, but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. Haze was taken to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.
The GoFundMe page had received $77,375 in donations at the time of writing, with a goal of $100,000 raised.
BYU running back Curtis Brown looks for yards against SDSU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. BYU defeated SDSU 47-17. (Getty Images)
“It’s an extremely unfortunate situation,” Clovis police spokesman Ty Wood told the New York Post, adding, “adults should never let children swim unsupervised and should always learn CPR and have rescue equipment nearby.”
Brown and his wife are the parents of five, including son Trey and triplets Cruze, Julie and Kash.
Brown played five seasons with the Cougars from 2002 to 2006, including a redshirt sophomore campaign in 2003. He came into his own in 2004, amassing 789 yards on 158 carries with six touchdowns, cementing himself as someone to lead the way for BYU next season.
Brown did just that, leading the Mountain West Conference with 14 rushing touchdowns while tallying 1,123 yards on 210 carries. He also had 454 receiving yards on 53 receptions with two more scores through the air.
In his senior year, Brown had 1,010 yards on the ground and 566 through the air with 10 total touchdowns over 13 games.
Brigham Young University running back Curtis Brown plays with the trophy after the Cougars defeated the Oregon Ducks 38-8 in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nev. (Getty Images)
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Brown finished his BYU career with 3,241 rushing yards and 1,309 receiving yards with 36 touchdowns over 52 games. He held the school history rushing record before Harvey Unga broke it in 2009.
Brown looked to the NFL as his next step in 2007, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. But after four appearances during the preseason, the Bengals released him before Week 1.
BYU did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Pakinomist Digital.
