Remi’s Aquatic Angels was founded in July 2023 by Remi’s cousins, Brooklyn Buchan and Zaida Buchan, after the accidental drowning of their baby cousin, Remi Skye.
Our mission is to educate parents, families, and caregivers about water safety for children. We provide resources that connect families with water safety classes and share important safety guidelines for pools and other bodies of water.
Through education and awareness, we hope to prevent tragedies like the one our family experienced and help keep children safe in and around water.
Remi’s Aquatic Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations help support our mission to promote water safety and prevent drowning.
Kyle and Courtney Emerson, high school sweethearts from Manchester, New Hampshire, relocated to Williamsburg, Virginia, to be closer to family with military ties. In Virginia, they got married and welcomed their first daughter, Mia. After a challenging journey that eventually led to the birth of their second daughter, Remi Skye, on May 22, 2021, their family was complete. The Emersons were known for their profound love and devotion to their daughters, embodying the quintessential American family. They established a strong community presence in Williamsburg, forming meaningful friendships and connections, including a trusting relationship with a family they would entrust with their daughters.
On the morning of September 26, 2022, 16-month-old Remi Skye, a healthy and lively toddler, was at the home of Emerson's longtime friend for childcare. Tragically, the home lacked adequate safety measures for the swimming pool, leading to a tragic incident. Remi wandered outside, unsupervised through a sliding glass door, past a pool gate, up the deck stairs, and into the pool, where she was later found lifeless by the caregiver. Despite an immediate 911 response and initial unsuccessful resuscitation efforts, emergency personnel eventually restored her heartbeat after more than 20 minutes. Remi was rushed to the Sentara Medical Center in Williamsburg, Virginia, and subsequently airlifted to VCU in Richmond due to the severity of her condition. After days of medical evaluation and VCU managing the brain swelling, it became clear that Remi had minimal brain function remaining. Faced with their worst nightmare, Kyle and Courtney learned that she would not recover. On October 30, 2022, Remi Skye passed away with her immediate family by her side.
In her memory, we established Remi's Aquatic Angels with the goal of preventing similar tragedies. Our mission is to educate communities and provide resources to enhance pool safety. We are committed to making a meaningful difference and preventing accidental drownings. We invite you to support efforts to protect others in honor of Remi's legacy.