May 26, 2009, marked a sorrowful day as Exodus Tyson, the 4-year-old daughter of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, passed away at a Phoenix hospital. The circumstances surrounding her death were described by police as a "tragic accident" involving a home treadmill.
Treadmills can pose dangers to young children.
The Accident
Exodus was found on life support after accidentally hanging herself on a cord dangling from a treadmill in her central Phoenix home. Andy Hill explained the heartbreaking details of the incident. "Somehow, she was playing on this treadmill, and there's a cord that hangs under the console; it's kind of a loop," Hill said.
He further elaborated, "Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it."
The incident occurred while the child's mother was cleaning the house, and the toddler was playing in a playroom, according to a statement from Phoenix police. When the 34-year-old woman sent her son to see what Exodus was doing, the boy found her "in distress," the police statement said.
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Mike Tyson Breaks Down About Death of 4yr old Daughter
He called his mother, who found her on a treadmill with a cable that was attached to the exercise machine wrapped around her neck, police said. Police said the child's mother ran into the room, freed her from the cord, called 911 and then started CPR.
When police arrived, the girl was unresponsive, and they immediately took over from the woman performing CPR.
Family's Reaction
Brief footage from KNXV-TV showed the ex-champ arriving at the hospital Monday in a white button-up shirt and black pants, and looking around with a frown before going inside. Hill said Tyson, 42, had been in Las Vegas but flew to Phoenix immediately after learning of the accident.
Exodus' 7-year-old brother found her Monday and told their mother, who was in another room. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.
In a statement, the boxer said: "The Tyson family would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support, and we ask that we be allowed our privacy at this difficult time. There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus."
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Mike Tyson arriving at the hospital.
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