King David shares full account of how his one-year-old son drowned in Mombasa
Forex trader and influencer David Mwangi, alias King David, has, for the first time, shared the heartbreaking details surrounding the tragic death of his one-year-old son, Mateo Kariuki, who drowned during a family vacation in Mombasa.
While the family had earlier confirmed the devastating news of Mateo’s passing, King David has now opened up about the painful sequence of events, offering a deeply emotional glimpse into the tragedy that has left them shattered.
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In a collaborative post on Instagram on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, David revealed that they had travelled to Mombasa for a much-needed holiday and spent time enjoying water activities, with Mateo attending swimming lessons at a local hotel.
The toddler, full of life and curiosity, was learning fast and had been using floaters for safety.
“He learnt fast and was able to get rid of all the fear,” David shared, adding that Mateo had been eager to continue the experience the following day.
Tragically, the morning after their fun day, Mateo managed to slip out of the holiday house unnoticed and headed straight to the swimming pool.
“Once we woke up the following morning, he was ready to continue the experience. As boys have always been, he managed to get out of the door without anyone noticing, and he got into the swimming pool of their holiday house. Unfortunately, no one was around to stop him or save him in time. By the time his parents realised he was missing, Mateo was no more,” David recounted.
The grieving father painted a heart-wrenching picture of the family’s pain, describing how the loss has deeply affected them.
“A mother is grieving the loss of a child she took care of, who was healthy, who was as handsome as a son can be. A dad is mourning losing his son, just a few weeks after celebrating his birthday. And to make things worse, losing him while on vacation to give his family the life he always dreamt of,” he said.
The family has since asked for peace and privacy as they process the loss of their beloved son.
King David, while mourning his son’s untimely death, also thanked supporters for their prayers and goodwill during this incredibly difficult time.
“Your prayers and good will is all we ask for during this hard time. RIP baby Mateo,” he shared.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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