PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A family is grappling with the devastating loss of an 11-year-old girl who was killed in a tragic tubing accident on the St. Johns River on Tuesday. The incident, which also left her two young cousins injured, has cast a somber shadow over the tight-knit community.
The victim has been identified as Manaid Anjum. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Manaid was on an inner tube being pulled by a boat when the accident occurred.
While the specific details of the accident are still under investigation by the FWC, it has been confirmed that Manaid’s two cousins were also on the tube and sustained injuries. The extent of their injuries has not been publicly released.
The news has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many expressing their condolences and support for the grieving family. Friends and neighbors described Manaid as a bright and joyful child, making the reality of her sudden death even more difficult to comprehend.
“It’s a nightmare you can’t wake up from,” said one family friend, who wished to remain anonymous. “One moment they are having a fun day on the water, and the next, it turns into this unspeakable tragedy. Our hearts are completely broken for her parents and the entire family.”
Local officials have urged boaters and those enjoying water-based activities to exercise extreme caution, especially when children are involved. The FWC is expected to release a preliminary report on the incident in the coming days.
In the meantime, a community in mourning is left to remember a young life cut tragically short, as a family navigates the unimaginable pain of their loss.
