A heartbreaking family vacation turned into tragedy when a 6-year-old New Jersey girl was fatally injured in a freak badminton accident in Maine.
Lucy Morgan was vacationing with her parents and three siblings at a lakeside retreat in Limerick when the accident happened on June 1.
According to her father, Jesse Morgan, the children had gone outside to play badminton after lunch while he and his wife, Bethany, relaxed nearby.
Lucy was sitting on the sidelines when a racket being used by her 10-year-old brother suddenly broke during a downward swing.
A jagged piece of the aluminum shaft flew through the air and struck Lucy in the head, causing a catastrophic brain injury.
Her parents rushed toward the children after hearing screaming.
“Bethany and I were relaxing in the back when we heard screaming,” Jesse later recalled.
He said the broken racket piece had entered Lucy’s skull and left her unconscious and unresponsive.
Lucy was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where doctors performed emergency surgery and removed part of her skull in an effort to relieve swelling on her brain.
During the operation, Lucy went into cardiac arrest.
Doctors were able to revive her, but the family was later told that her chances of recovery were extremely slim.
Lucy died from her injuries in the early morning hours of June 5.
Her family gathered around her hospital bed and sang one of her favorite hymns before saying goodbye.
Maine State Police called the accident an unimaginable tragedy.
“This is such a sad, tragic situation,” police said at the time. “Our hearts break for the family.”
Lucy’s father later revealed that just weeks before her death, his daughter had asked her mother a deeply emotional question about God.
Her obituary said Lucy went to her room to pray and later wrote in a journal about her love for God, using both words and drawings.
Jesse described his daughter as a loving child whose short life had already touched many people.
“Lucy’s loving spirit touched the hearts of all who knew her,” he said.
“Though her time on Earth was short, her impact has been profound as her story has circulated.”
Lucy loved Chick-fil-A, drawing, dancing, soccer, church and spending time with her family.
She lived in Stockholm, New Jersey, with her parents and three siblings, who ranged in age from 4 to 10.
The family had been enjoying a week of kayaking and other outdoor activities in Maine and was preparing to return home when the accident occurred.
Now, Lucy’s parents have filed a lawsuit against Franklin Sports, the Massachusetts company that manufactured the badminton racket.
The lawsuit alleges the racket was defective and did not contain enough adhesive to securely hold the metal shaft in place.
The family claims that failure allowed the broken piece to become a dangerous projectile.
The lawsuit also accuses Franklin Sports of failing to adequately warn customers about potential dangers associated with the product.
The racket was reportedly part of a badminton set provided at the rental cottage where the family was staying.
The family’s attorney, Charles P. Hehmeyer of Berman & Simmons, described Lucy’s death as “a parent’s worst nightmare.”
The claims in the lawsuit have not yet been proven in court.
It is the worst thing to happen! I lost my son while on duty in Kuwait. May the Lord be with them.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine losing my son. No matter how old they are, they’re always your baby.