VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A family is heartbroken as they commemorated on Aug. 5 what would have been Zamari Wilson’s 15th birthday.
Two years ago, the young man drowned in the water near Shore Drive. Now his family wants lifeguards at popular beaches in the city, whether private or public.
Zamari Wilson’s family remembers him as a talented artist and creator.
“He was an all-around artist and graphic designer — he liked to draw, he liked to paint,” said Brenda Eason Wilson, Zamari Wilson’s mom. “He played the drums and the keyboard.”
The 12-year-old was visiting his family in the resort area in 2022.
“It was the 4th of July weekend, so it was a pretty busy weekend,” Brenda Eason Wilson said. “Zamari, he loved the beach. He just wanted to hit the water as soon as we woke up. … Ten minutes before we were about to leave, he went for one last dip. There were actually some people on the beach that were trying to get help. His arms were wailing in the water for help. There were no lifeguards there at all. Nowhere up and down the beach.”
First responders were called to the 2800 block of Shore Drive around 10:20 a.m., on July 3, 2022, for a missing child. Around 1:30 p.m., his body was found, and he was pronounced dead.
“They were searching by the air, by the sea, they had boats, they had helicopters, firefighters, police … everybody, just hoping that they would be able to pick him up and get him out alive. But hours later, I was sitting right at the restaurant, at the Delta Marriott, looking out at the beach. I saw them show walk his covered body right past me. That’s when the world slowly changed,” said Brenda Eason Wilson. “Trying to turn my pain into purpose. I started a petition to make it mandatory for lifeguards to be on a beach.”
Over the last year, the petition has garnered more than 1,000 signatures. The same day at Chic’s Beach, a 44-year-old man, Ryan Michael Neal, drowned near the 3400 block of Shore Drive.
“I don’t want anybody else to experience this,” Brenda Eason Wilson said.
Lifeguards are usually at the beaches, including Croatan, 57th Street, North End and the resort strip. Lifeguards are not required at privately-owned beaches in Virginia Beach.
A city spokesperson told 10 On Your Side:
“The loss of a child is a tragedy, and we understand that the family is seeking increased lifeguard service to include the bay beaches. I can’t speak to the incident itself, but I can share that residents have the right to advocate for increased City services and programs through their elected officials. Any increase of this magnitude to a City service would be a Council decision as part of the budget process. There will be several opportunities for residents to participate in the upcoming budget cycle.”
— Ali Weatherton-Shook Virginia Beach Public Information Liaison
Yaida Ford, with Ford Law Pros, is hopeful state leaders will step in.
“Brenda’s heart is to ensure that nobody else has to lose their child like this,” Ford said. “We are approaching the Virginia General Assembly asking them to pass legislation that would require these private entities that are not really legally liable for anything to mandate that they have lifeguards on their beach during the open season. That’s what the ask is. We’re prayerful that we’ll find some compassionate legislators and in the House of Delegates and Senate that are willing to push this and advance this cause.”
Ford explains the challenges with holding private entities accountable.
“First, we dealt with the private entity because they’re going to say what the city leaders always say. ‘Did you go to the hotel? Did you talk to the hotel management?’ That has all been done,” Ford said. “Now the next step is to go to the [state] leaders. Virginia would need to pass this statewide. That will put pressure on the city to do it. I just don’t think the city wants to mess with major industry because that brings money to the city. That brings tourists here. What leverage do we have? We have to go to the state level.”
Ahead of Labor Day weekend, Brenda Eason Wilson wants families to be cautious in the water while she works to prevent drownings at the beach.
“I went down there with my son. I came back without him,” she said. “Everybody has gone on with their life while I’m still trying to pick up the pieces.”
To learn more about Zamari through his art page, affectionately named ‘Zamari’s World‘, sign the petition or donate to the families GoFundMe.