A group of White teenagers in Florida have been accused of leaving their Black friend, who did not know how to swim, to drown inside a river.
The incident was recorded by a family who were kayaking on the river at the time. They said they heard yelling coming from nearby and, as they paddled closer, they saw the scene unfolding in front of them. On one side of the river close to the land, the boys were present. On the opposite side, their Black friend was left in deeper water on his own.
As the family got closer, they heard the boys taunting their friend from across the river and yelling at him. One of the individuals was also heard cursing at him and using the r-slur. The group continued the taunting, and the boys were also heard making monkey noises directed toward him. Some viewers online interpreted these actions as suggesting the incident may have been racially motivated.
At one point, the boy could be heard saying, “I’m gonna die.” After hearing this, the family offered assistance. They moved closer so he would be able to hold onto their paddle boards. The boy identified himself as Marquise, and the family asked him if he was okay.
Marquise then provided additional details about the situation. He said his friends had expected him to swim back to them. He also stated that he could not swim and that it was his first time at the river. At one point, he told the group, “I’m never coming back with y’all.”
One of the individuals in the group could be heard arguing that they had provided him with a life jacket. Marquise responded that the life jacket he was given was for children. By the end of the video, the family helped lead Marquise back to safety as he repeated to his friends that he was not coming back with them again.
The mother from the family later shared an update, adding further details about the situation. She said that the life jacket given to Marquise by his friends was too small. “Water is so unforgiving. It can turn deadly in a split second,” she said. She also stated that there were strong currents and wind on the day of the incident, and that Marquise could not swim, describing it as a “recipe for disaster.” She added that Marquise had safely returned home following the incident.
Viewers Outraged After Florida Boys Leave Their Friend
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers expressed outrage after seeing the video of the Florida boys leaving their Black friend in the water. Some viewers thanked the family for intervening, while others called for consequences to be taken. “I hope the police were called,” one person wrote. Another person said, “Teach your babies it’s okay to be alone, self love is more important than friendship.”
Several people also thanked the mother and her family. One person wrote, “You saved him. Thank you for not ignoring that baby. He needed you.” Another person said, “Well as a BLACK MOM I’m thankful you were there even followed you because your story is truly inspirational.” Someone else added, “As a black woman baby you did more than enough and did the right thing. Far too many times we’ve been ‘the only one’ and the outcome hasn’t ended well. Thank you for helping that baby.”
The video prompted discussion online regarding the incident and the behavior shown toward the boy, including some viewers’ interpretations that the actions shown may have involved racial elements. It also led to broader conversations about the importance of intervening when witnessing a potentially dangerous situation involving others.
