EUREKA, Mo. — On Saturday, July 27, a man drowned this afternoon in Eureka.
Reacting to this latest water-related death, 5 On Your Side spoke with water safety experts and the mother of T.J. Mister, the six-year-old boy who drowned at summer camp in 2022.
T.J. died while he was learning to swim at Kennedy Recreation Center pool. His mom Olga Mister said while they've tried to move on, last Saturday was the two-year anniversary of his drowning — making this week's series of fatal water rescues all the more traumatic.
"I wish it could stop," Olga said. "I wish we could be more aware."
Missouri State Highway Patrol said 48-year-old Bryan Wilson from High Ridge drowned around 1:00 p.m. on July 27. Police said he drowned after trying to save a woman struggling to swim in the Meramec River downstream of Highway 109.
Wilson's death is not the first reported drowning this week.
On Sunday, July 21, 40-year-old Melissa Hill from Valley Park drowned while trying to save someone stuck in the Big River upstream of St. Francois State Park.
Two days later on Tuesday, July 23, a body was recovered at Rockford Park in Jefferson County after a swimmer went under and never resurfaced. It was 33-year-old Guadalupe Lopez from Madison, IL.
Olga said her family has tried to work through the continuing trauma.
"We did that together," Olga said pointing to a collage the family made together in their home. "It was helpful. Art therapy is really helpful."
Gateway Region YMCA is also trying to help across the bi-state, providing more than 20,000 swim lessons to children each year. Yet, District Vice President of the City District Matt Thompson emphasized it's not just kids who need tips on water safety.
Adults should also "have a Coast Guard approval life jacket on, so that you are able to establish what the water is like — especially for water that you can't see the bottom," Thompson said. "That creates a very dangerous situation."
A 'dangerous situation' and an aftermath Olga still has to grapple with beside her husband Travone Mister, T.J.'s father.
Olga can't help but think about how T.J. would have been eight and a half — not to mention, what his life would look like now.
"I ask myself that everyday," Olga said. "What movie would be his favorite movie? He would have the brightest future. He could have been the next president, you never know. He could have changed the world but that life was taken from him."
The Every Child A Swimmer Scholarship is a grant program at Goldfish Swim School that the Misters have helped fundraised for in T.J.'s honor. Giving six months of free swim lessons in our area to children in financial need ranging in age from four months to 12-years-old.
Here is the application link for the free six-months of swimming lessons.
Olga hopes that using the tools in swim lessons will mean fewer drownings.
If you're interested in donating to Every Child a Swimmer or T.J.'s Story Foundation you can click the links.