BY GRACE ZIGAH
A man who found 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager Javits Frimpong critically injured in the United States has shared a heartbreaking account of the young boy’s final moments, revealing how he remained remarkably composed despite the severity of his injuries.
The witness, who has spoken publicly for the first time about the encounter, said his immediate concern was to prevent further blood loss and remain beside the teenager until help arrived.
Recounting the incident, he explained that when he came across Javits, he immediately focused on providing assistance and ensuring that the injured teenager was not left alone during the frightening ordeal.
“I saw Javits lying there, and my immediate thought was to stop the bleeding and basically to stay with him until someone was there,” he recalled.
However, beyond the traumatic circumstances surrounding the incident, what appeared to have left the deepest impression on the witness was the teenager’s extraordinary composure.
According to him, Javits demonstrated remarkable courage despite being critically injured, maintaining a level of calmness that he believed many adults would have struggled to display under similar circumstances.
The witness said the teenager even managed to introduce himself while receiving assistance, a moment he described as particularly memorable.
“Besides that, what I want the family to know is that he was extremely brave about the whole thing. I would have been crying my eyes out, and he wasn’t doing that, and he told me his name. He was extremely brave,” he said.
The witness further disclosed that although he did everything he could at the scene, Javits eventually died when authorities arrived.
Reflecting on the experience, he described being present during the teenager’s final hours as both painful and meaningful, saying he was grateful that he could at least offer some comfort and companionship when the young boy needed it most.
“I’m glad I was there with him, in his last hours, to make him feel comfortable, to make him feel he was loved,” he said.
His emotional recollection ended with a tribute expressing his regret that he could not do more to save the teenager.
“Long live Javits. I wish I could have done more, and I will [expletive] every day to it. But I’m glad I was there with him,” he added.
The account has emerged as the community continues to mourn Javits, whose death has generated widespread grief and renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
A candlelit vigil was organised to mark one week since his passing, bringing together mourners from different nationalities, religious backgrounds and walks of life.
The gathering provided an opportunity for friends, community members and other sympathisers to honour the teenager’s memory, offer support to his grieving family and reflect on the tragic loss of a young life.
