A 12-year-old boy from South Carolina has died from a brain-eating amoeba. Jaysen Carr was swimming in Lake Murray when he contracted the infection, causing a fatal brain infection that killed him. Now, his parents want to warn others.

12-year-old Jaysen Carr was enjoying a peaceful day at Lake Murray, South Carolina, with his parents during a Fourth-of-July swim. But the day turned into a living nightmare.

Carr contracted a rare, fatal brain infection, caused by Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba. The infection is known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which occurs when water is forced into the nose. It’s then able to cross into the brain, which could happen when engaging in recreational freshwater activities.

Jaysen Carr died in the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands, a South Carolina children’s hospital. The South Carolina Department of Health said it was the first known case of the amoeba since 2016, according to CBS News.

Per the CDC, the Naegleria fowleri “lives in soil and warm freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and hot springs around the world. In very rare cases, Naegleria fowleri has been found in poorly maintained swimming pools, splash pads, and other recreational venues. The ameba also has been found in tap water.”

Between 1962 and 2024, 167 cases of PAM were reported in the United States. Only four people who contracted it survived.

12-year-old Jaysen Carr died from brain-eating amoeba

The family of 12-year-old Jaysen Carr held a news conference Tuesday. As they are grieving, they also want to bring awareness of the rare and fatal brain infection.

“This is a very tough situation,” said Clarence Carr, Jaysen’s father. “We’re doing the best that we can, but just understand, we do not want this to happen to anyone else. We’re here to raise public awareness and go from there.”

Jaysen’s mother, Ebony, wore her son’s all-state champion headband to honor him. She said that if they had known about the risks of hom swimming in the lake, no one would have chosen to jump into the water.

“So we definitely want the public to know that there are major risks swimming in Lake Murray and any other body of water,” she said. “There needs to definitely be some awareness about it, and we don’t want his death to be in vain because had we known, he wouldn’t have been in it.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that to reduce the risk of infection, hold your nose or wear a nose clip if you jump or dive into freshwater. Meanwhile, keep your head above water in hot springs, per CBS.

Signs of infection could include nausea, vomiting, fever, stiff neck, seizures, a severe headache, altered mental state, and hallucinations.

Family wants to raise awareness

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Jaysen. It describes him as an “incredible son, a devoted brother and a true friend to everyone who knew him. His kind heart and bright spirit left a lasting impact on everyone he met.”

Jaysen bravely faced a tough medical battle, and while his strength inspired so many, the journey has left the Carr family with numerous unexpected expenses. As they navigate this heartbreaking loss, we want to come together to help ease their burden,” the GoFundMe reads.

At the time of writing, the fundraiser has accumulated more than $58.000.

Rest in peace, Jaysen Carr. Please share this article on Facebook to raise awareness and warn others about this brain-eating amoeba.