A 13-year-old boy from Utah died from injuries suffered after being found with a tetherball rope wrapped around his neck.
The incident occurred on October 28, 2023, in a corn maze near Venice, Utah.
The Knight family owns and operates the corn maze, known as Knights Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. The youngest member of the Knight family, Maximus Knight, had been assisting his relatives in cleaning up the area. As the day progressed, family members noticed Maximus was absent. A search was undertaken, and to their dismay, they discovered the young boy unresponsive near a tetherball pole with the rope entangled around his neck.
Emergency services were called to the scene. Upon their arrival, Maximus showed no signs of breathing and had no pulse. Paramedics were able to revive and restore his pulse, and he was airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City. Despite the tireless work of medical professionals, Maximus later died from his injuries.
The sheriff’s office has released a statement clarifying that there were no indicators of foul play surrounding the incident. While the exact cause of death has not been determined, initial findings lean toward it being an accidental occurrence.
As news of Maximus’s passing spread, the community rallied around the Knight family. To assist with the unexpected medical and funeral costs, Maximus’s aunt established a GoFundMe campaign. The campaign, which had an initial goal of $50,000, has already seen generous contributions surpassing $20,000. Many who contributed shared heartfelt messages, often describing Maximus as a “sweet, loving boy” who had a knack for bringing joy to those around him.