Sad & Scary — Texas Teen Dead From Rare Brain-Eating Disease He Got From Swimming In A Lake

This is so sad!

Michael Riley, Jr., a 14-year-old boy from Texas, has died after contracted a very rare brain-eating disease while swimming in a lake earlier this month.

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The teen had gone on a trip to Louisiana with his track team when he hopped into the lake with the rest of his friends. A week later, he was in a medically-induced coma as doctors desperately tried to save his life from the disease.

The disease, which as only affected a handful of people in America over the last five decades, is caused by a bacteria known as Naegleria fowleri, which is found in lakes, rivers, and other freshwater areas. While it's rare, it's almost always fatal, killing 130 of the 133 people who have contracted it in the United States since 1962.

Michael's family made a statement on their Facebook page about Michael's death, saying:

"It is with a heavy heart, that we let everyone know that Michael John Riley Jr lost his battle on this earth but won a victory for his place in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So unexpected and so tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[Image via Miracle4Michael/Facebook.]

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