What happened to Shaquil Barrett's daughter? NFL star reflects on tragic death
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Shaquil Barrett (Image via Getty)Shaquil Barrett and his wife, Jordanna Barrett, built a growing family with their kids and showered them with love and affection.
They welcomed four daughters after tying the knot in 2012. Unfortunately, the couple tragically lost their child in 2023 when she was just 2 years old.
Arrayah passed away due to an accidental drowning incident in the family's house pool.
Two years after their heartwrenching loss, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker opened up about her late daughter's demise in a recent conversation.
Shaquil Barrett reflected on her daughter’s passing
It has been over two years since the Barrett family heard the heartbreaking news of Arrayah’s death in 2023.
In a recent appearance on the July 20 episode of Good Morning America, the 32-year-old NFL star expressed his grief at losing his child.
As Us Weekly cited the interview, he shared while mourning,
“It’s always a battle. It’s always a struggle. It don’t get no easier but it’s something that we’ve been managing, dealing with, just talking with each other and talking to NFL families, talking to friends, the kids and making sure they’re doing OK.”
The parents of four kids try to
“keep moving on, healing in a proper way.”
During the conversation, he also spoke about the pool safety at his place back then. Further adding that they did not follow any “basic step” to arrange the pool area, he explained,
“We didn’t even have a gate that was protecting the pool, so that was the main thing. We had door sensors but we got annoyed [by] the kids going in and out all the time, so we ended up turning the door sensors off.”
Recalling the morning her daughter tragically died at their home pool, he admitted that the door to the swimming area was unlocked. Additionally, the door chimes were turned off. Unaware of the circumstances, the pair believed flotation devices and life vests were enough to rescue the little ones.
While chatting with the host on the show, Barrett later chimed in,
“We just didn’t know that the life vests and the flotation devices made it a false sense of security for the babies, thinking they could swim now because every time they’re in the pool, they have the life vests on, life jackets on or flotation device. We’ve been doing that all the time now.”
He also shared that, along with Jordanna, he too has been “preparing for the worst-case scenario” after teaching the girls to feel confident and safe around water in their pool. Later, Jordanna added in the chit-chat, saying,
“Most importantly, most drownings happen during non-swim times. It’s important to have all those safety layers before they’re actually in the pool and leading up to them being in the pool.”
Discussing children’s safety at any pool, she further explained that keeping all the “swim toys away” is a significant step. Elaborating her views, she also shared
“I think that brings children to want to go to the pool, to want to have fun and they see all the fun things. So making sure that those things are put away so that it takes that distraction from them, is really important.”
After Arrayah's demise in 2023, Shaquil introduced an organization named the Arrayah Hope Foundation with Jordanna. Talking about the initiative, the athlete added,
"Reach out to us, reach out to any drowning prevention organization and I’m pretty sure they can lead you [in the] right direction."
On May 7, 2023, Jordanna shared an adorable Instagram carousel of Arrayah's cutest moments with a heartfelt caption. Confessing to missing the little one's laughter, smile, and hugs, she wrote,
"I miss your laugh. I miss your smile. I miss your hugs, I miss your mommas. I miss everything about you. My heart is so shattered. I would do anything to give you one more hug, one more I love you. One more anything. I wish I could go back and change time. I wish I could hold you so close. I just miss you my Arrayah girl. I just miss you. I love you forever. And am counting down the days until I get to be with you again!"
On Arrayah's first death anniversary, the father of four penned an emotional tribute to his late daughter, expressing,
"Hey baby girl, Ik I didn't post you on your bday just the emotions that come with putting together the words to say was something I didn't wanna feel at the time and I'm sorry. To have to think about you not being here is to overwhelming at times."
Cherishing her memories captured in pictures and videos, he further penned,
“Looking through all my pictures and videos of you brings the biggest smile to my face because you were always so happy and smiling nonstop. Then sadness hits because pictures and videos are all that we have left of you.”
Acknowledging the little one’s presence in his life, even for a short while, Shaquil thanked her for giving him “the best two years.” He honored her daughter and carried the weight of her absence, sharing,
“It sucks that we couldn't have more time together. So grateful for the time we did have together. It's been a year and it still feels like yesterday. We miss you so much baby girl. Please continue to watch over us. We love you”
How did Shaquil Barrett's daughter die?
On April 30, 2023, Shaquil and Jordanna lost their daughter Arrayah to drowning. According to ABC News, the little one drowned in the pool of their Tampa home in Florida. Discovering her in that devastating state inside the pool, she was quickly rushed to a local hospital.
As per an ESPN report, the Tampa Police Department spoke about receiving an alert of the kid falling into a swimming pool and reaching the NFL star’s home before 9:30 a.m. ET. Unfortunately, the doctors could not save her even after taking the required steps. She was pronounced dead after a while.
While the investigation was in process, the Tampa Police Department issued an official statement about the probe, explaining,
“It is not believed to be suspicious in nature at this time, but a purely accidental and tragic incident.”
On May 1, 2023, ESPN reported that the Buccaneers family released an official statement, announcing,
"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."
The family members also stated,
"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."
On the September 17, 2023, game against the Chicago Bears, Shaquil wore a heart-shaped shining necklace to honor his late daughter. While speaking to the media after the victory, as ABC News cited, he said,
"My faith never really wavered going through this situation. I needed him more now [and then] than I needed him ever. That was the only way our family was going to make do, by leaning on each other and trusting in the Lord."
Describing his interception as a "divine intervention," he further added,
"I do feel like it was divine intervention to be able to get that spotlight for my baby girl."
Expressing the significance of his family in his life and his athletic performances, he also said during the press conference,
"I always played for my family already, but having that extra incentive makes me want to go a little harder for her. It never stops sucking. It's always going to suck, but at least I'm able to shine a little bit of a spotlight on her."
Shaquil Barrett and Jordanna Barrett are parents to Aaliyah, Allanah Ray, Amaiah Marie, and Arrayah.
Arrayah was the youngest of the four Barrett children.
TOPICS: Shaquil Barrett