Family’s World Cup celebration ends in unimaginable tragedy

18 Jun 2026 • 9:48 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Family’s World Cup celebration ends in unimaginable tragedy

  • An 8-year-old boy, Taylor Thach, died after a suspected drowning incident in El Segundo, California.
  • The incident occurred at another family's home during a World Cup watch party on Friday evening.
  • Police and fire crews responded to reports of an unresponsive child, who was later pronounced dead at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
  • Authorities are treating the case as a tragic accident, with no signs of criminal negligence, pending an autopsy.
  • A GoFundMe campaign for Taylor's family has raised over $83,000, and the school district is providing grief support to those affected.

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