Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in June 2024.
A family getaway to Maine turned into a nightmare for the Morgan family from New Jersey when their 6-year-old daughter, Lucy, suffered a fatal injury from a broken badminton racket. The tragic incident occurred during what was supposed to be a relaxing lakeside holiday, leaving her family devastated.
Lucy Morgan passed away on Wednesday, just four days after the heartbreaking accident that took place on Saturday. The family of six was enjoying their last day at their rental cottage in Limerick, Maine, when the unimaginable happened. Jesse Morgan, Lucy's father and a pastor at Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, recounted the incident in a blog post titled "Calamity Strikes."
The family was having a quick lunch by the lake when Lucy's siblings decided to play badminton in the yard. While Jesse and his wife, Bethany, relaxed nearby, they suddenly heard screams. In a tragic twist, a piece of the racket broke off during a downward swing, and a sharp fragment struck Lucy in the skull as she sat on the sidelines, causing catastrophic injuries, Jesse explained.
According to Maine State Police, the injury was unintentional and involved Lucy's 10-year-old brother. Investigators determined that the aluminum shaft of the racket had detached from its wooden handle, causing it to strike Lucy with devastating force.
Emergency responders rushed Lucy to a local hospital, where she was quickly airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Upon arrival, she was immediately taken into surgery to relieve pressure on her brain, but during the procedure, Lucy flatlined. Miraculously, the medical team was able to revive her; however, the damage was severe. Doctors informed the family that Lucy had lost all brain function and could no longer breathe on her own.
The prognosis was grim, with medical professionals stating she had "a very slim chance" of recovery due to the depth of the injury and the immediate arterial bleeds caused by the penetration. Tragically, Lucy succumbed to her injuries early Wednesday morning, just a day after doctors had predicted her passing.
As the family began the somber journey home, Jesse shared his heartbreak. "Each time I glanced in the rearview mirror, I found myself wishing I could see Lucy there, happily munching on chicken nuggets from our Wendy's stop, where we'd only ordered for five," he wrote, reflecting on the absence of his daughter during the long drive back to New Jersey.
The impact of the tragedy has weighed heavily on Lucy's siblings -- Silas, 10, Shiloh, 8, and Atticus, 4 -- who are struggling to understand the loss. Jesse revealed that Lucy's brother, who accidentally caused the injury, has been particularly affected, asking, "How could we ever be happy again?"
In the wake of their heartbreaking loss, the family found solace in each other. Jesse described moments of deep grief shared on their porch and kitchen floor, emphasizing the emotional toll the incident has taken on them.
Lucy's funeral is scheduled for June 15 at her father's church, where family, friends, and community members will gather to honor the young girl's memory. This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly joy can turn into sorrow and the fragility of life.