Identifying the teen who died in an accidental drowning in Racine

RACINE, Wis. -- The family identifies the teen who died in an accidental drowning in Racine as 15-year-old Shaylani May Williams from Racine.

Racine County Sheriff 's boat patrol responded around 6:20 p.m. on July 31 to reports of a teen struggling in the water 30 feet from shore at Carre-Hogle Park at 16th Street & Wisconsin Avenue, who then went underwater.

Racine Fire found her under water about 20 feet from shore. The conditions were very poor with 20-25mph sustained winds, 3-foot waves in the lagoon area, with visible rip currents.

Williams was pulled from the water, not breathing. Racine Fire started immediate life saving measures, and transferred her to the hospital in critical condition. She passed away on August 1 from her injuries.

Her family says she was about to start her sophomore year at Horlick High School, where she was on the wrestling team.

<div class="eb-slider-wrapper eb-slider-fye5n" data-settings="{"arrows":true,"adaptiveHeight":false,"autoplay":false,"autoplaySpeed":3000,"dots":true,"fade":false,"infinite":true,"pauseOnHover":true,"slidesToShow":1,"speed":500,"vertical":false,"currentSlide":0,"rtl":false,"responsive":[{"breakpoint":1025,"settings":{"slidesToShow":1}},{"breakpoint":767,"settings":{"slidesToShow":1}}]}" data-images="[{"url":"https://wtmj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ShaylaniWilliams2.png","alt":"","id":0,"imageId":612188,"caption":"Shaylani May Williams. Image courtesy of the Williams family.","title":"Shaylani May Williams. Image courtesy of the Williams family.","subtitle":"Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle","showButton":true,"buttonText":"See More","buttonUrl":"","openNewTab":false,"isValidUrl":true,"showSecondButton":false,"secondButtonText":"See More","secondButtonUrl":"","secondButtonOpenNewTab":false},{"url":"https://wtmj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ShaylaniWilliams3.jpg","alt":"","id":1,"imageId":612189,"caption":"Shaylani May Williams. Image courtesy of the Horlick High School.","title":"Shaylani May Williams. Image courtesy of the Horlick High School.","subtitle":"Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle","showButton":true,"buttonText":"See More","buttonUrl":"","openNewTab":false,"isValidUrl":true,"showSecondButton":false,"secondButtonText":"See More","secondButtonUrl":"","secondButtonOpenNewTab":false},{"url":"https://wtmj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ShaylaniWilliams4.jpg","alt":"","id":2,"imageId":612190,"caption":"Shaylani May Williams. Image courtesy of the Horlick High School.","title":"Shaylani May Williams. Image courtesy of the Horlick High School.","subtitle":"Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle","showButton":true,"buttonText":"See More","buttonUrl":"","openNewTab":false,"isValidUrl":true,"showSecondButton":false,"secondButtonText":"See More","secondButtonUrl":"","secondButtonOpenNewTab":false}]" data-slidercontenttype="content-1" data-slidertype="image" data-textalign="left" data-arrownexticon="fas fa-arrow-alt-circle-right" data-arrowprevicon="fas fa-arrow-alt-circle-left">