Family angry that 12-y-o’s death spread on social media

Relatives of 12-year-old Nicholoy Reid are upset that shortly after he died on Sunday, persons were posting about his death on social media, even before some family members heard the news.

"Learning about your family passing away on social media is the worst thing possible," Nicholoy's aunt, Trishan Smith, said. "I heard about it on TikTok. I came home and my daughter went on her tablet and saw it on TikTok."

"When I went home, I saw that my family members from abroad were calling me, so I know that something was wrong. So I called Nicholoy's mom and she said I should watch the news. I don't feel good and my family is not taking it well. We were on the phone until two this morning because I love Nicholoy," she added.

Another aunt, Sabrina, said the family was not taking it well.

"My kids saw it on TikTok, that's where they saw their cousin which I was quite upset about that. I never had the chance to talk to them [my kids] before," she pointed out.

Nicholoy was quite supportive of his mother and was helping her with the laundry on the fateful day. When the water in the tap stopped, he headed to the concrete tank to fetch water. He climbed several blocks used as steps to the tank, leaned over and lost his balance. When his mother eventually found out what was happening, her desperate attempt to save him failed.

The fire brigade was summoned but their efforts were too late. Nicholoy's body was finally retrieved.