Emilie Kiser, an Arizona social media influencer, spoke publicly for the first time about the drowning death of her three-year-old son, Trigg, in May 2025. In an interview on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Kiser said she has felt like an “unfit” mother since the incident.
The accident took place in the family’s garden pool while Kiser was having dinner with friends. Her husband, Brady Kiser, was watching the children but was distracted by their newborn son, Teddy. During this time, Trigg went outside and fell into the pool. Police reports say Trigg was left unsupervised for over nine minutes and was underwater for about seven minutes before being found. He was hospitalized but died six days later on May 18, 2025.
The incident received widespread attention, and Emilie Kiser returned to social media in August 2025 with a statement taking full responsibility for her son’s death and admitting that the absence of a pool fence played a role. Since then, she has addressed the situation several times on Instagram and TikTok.
In her interview with Jay Shetty, Kiser talked about the difficult emotions she has faced as a parent after losing Trigg. She said losing a child showed her how quickly life can change and be taken away. She added these feelings have made her question whether she is fit to be a mother.
Kiser said she faces a choice: “I can either let this completely derail me more than it already has, not feel like I’m fit to take care of my younger son, or I can do everything in my power to be the best mom I possibly can for him and give him the same love that Trigg had and has.” She made a promise to Trigg before his death to care for his younger brother Teddy.
Kiser talked about the preventability of the accident and the need for constant supervision around water. She urged parents to watch their children closely and to install safety measures like pool fences. She said drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
She also suggested infant swimming lessons, saying she enrolled Teddy in Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) classes starting at six months old. Kiser called swimming lessons a key way to protect children from drowning.
Emilie Kiser’s story has started a conversation about child safety and drowning prevention. By speaking on a major podcast, she moved from private grief to public awareness. She shared the details of her son’s death and her ongoing struggles as a grieving mother, stressing the importance of safety around pools.
Kiser said it is hard to move on without Trigg but she feels a responsibility to care for Teddy, who is the focus of her life.
A release date for her full interview on Jay Shetty’s podcast hasn’t been announced, but an exclusive clip shared by PEOPLE gives the most detailed look at her emotional reaction to the tragedy. Her honest reflections offer a rare view of the impact of losing a young child and parenting afterward.
The accident and its aftermath highlight a public health message about water safety for children. Kiser’s story reminds parents of the risks when young children are left alone near water, and the steps they can take to reduce those risks, including supervision, barriers, and swimming lessons.
