The athlete's youngest child drowned in a swimming pool at his home in Tampa Bay on Sunday, April 30.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett's 2-year-old daughter Arrayah died after drowning in a swimming pool at his home in Tampa Bay on Sunday, April 30. The toddler was sent to a nearby hospital but was later declared dead despite efforts to save her life.
Her devasted father is speaking out for the first time following his baby's drowning death. Barrett recently shared a sweet video of the father-daughter duo. "I miss you sooo much baby girl. I love you please watch over us," he captioned the heartbreaking clip on Instagram.
According to ABC News, police did not disclose the details surrounding the incident but they did confirm that the incident was "purely accidental." The Buccaneers released a statement at the time saying, "Today's tragic news is heartbreaking for all members of the Buccaneers family."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Shaq, Jordanna, and the entire Barrett family during this unimaginably difficult time. While no words can provide true comfort at a time such as this, we offer our support and love as they begin to process this very profound loss of their beloved Arrayah," the statement added.
The Super Bowl-winning athlete, 30, and his wife Jordanna have three other children. The athlete's youngest child is sorely missed by her family. On Sunday, May 7, Jordanna also shared on Instagram, a series of videos of her baby who she misses deeply. "I miss your laugh. I miss your smile. I miss your hugs, I miss your mommas. I miss everything about you," Jordanna captioned the videos showing the baby smiling and laughing. "My heart is so shattered. I would do anything to give you one more hug, one more I love you. One more anything."
The grief-stricken mom then goes on to thank her little girl "for the best 2 years of our lives. Your smile and laugh will forever be engraved in me. You are the sunshine to my days, and the beats to my heart. The world was a better place because you were in it. I love you forever and always and miss every big and little thing about you. Please stay close, momma needs you," she concluded.
The family more recently shared a statement on Instagram thanking fans for the outpouring of love during this incredibly hard time. "We feel the love from everywhere and that would not be possible without you all. This has been the hardest couple of weeks of our lives. And we couldn't have done it or start to even begin without you," they wrote addressing their supporters. In conclusion, they hoped Arryah's "light" will "shine upon you. We love you!"
References:
https://www.instagram.com/moochman6/
https://www.instagram.com/jordanna.barrett/
Cover Image Source: (L) Instagram | moochman6 (R) Twitter | @NFL_Stats
