LITTLE RIVER, S.C. (WPDE) — The 11-year-old girl who was killed Wednesday in a tragic boating accident on the Intracoastal Waterway in South Carolina is the daughter of a retired Major League Soccer player.
Olivia Knighton was killed Wednesday when a large wake from another boat sent her and eight others overboard the 23-foot vessel. Olivia was struck by a propeller and didn't survive the accident. No other injuries were reported.
Thursday, Olivia's father, former MLS goalkeeper Brad Knighton, took to Twitter to acknowledge his daughter's death.
"There are no words to express the depth of our profound grief and sorrow in this moment," his statement begins. "Our family is still in shock at the sudden and tragic loss of our beautiful and brilliant daughter, Olivia, to an unfortunate boating accident yesterday."
The New England Revolution, where Brad played for years as the club's goalie and where he now serves as the head coach since his retirement earlier this year, also tweeted a statement on Olivia's death, saying, in part:
"Olivia was a bright and shining light who was a beloved presence around the Revolution throughout her entire life, always bringing a warm smile and laugh to Gillette Stadium and our training facility when she would visit."
Brad is from Hickory, North Carolina, and attended UNC-Wilmington.
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