Teen refugee who drowned remembered for his passion for family, friends and fishing

Nearly every Friday after high school classes ended, Hsar Kpru Htoo and a few friends would grab their fishing poles and head to a nearby lake or river to see what was biting.

Friday was no exception.

Htoo, an 18-year-old junior at East High School, was fishing with a friend and his uncle Friday evening when tragedy struck.

At one point, Htoo stepped into the Blue River with a trash bag in an attempt to catch more fish. While standing in the water, he lost his footing and became completely submerged.

His friend jumped in, wrapped his arms around Htoo and tried to pull him out. But Htoo began to thrash. The friend began to swallow water and felt himself going under with Htoo, so he let go.

The friend swam back to the shore. He watched Htoo go under the water and not resurface.

Relatives soon reported him missing in the river about a quarter mile north of U.S. 40 in east Kansas City.

“I heard the news was not good,” said his sister Nyunt Aye. “I worried about him. He’s my younger brother, and he always talked to me when I got home.”

A water search and rescue crew recovered Htoo’s body about 5:20 p.m. Saturday.

The family, who immigrated to the United States from Myanmar nearly three years ago, now must plan Htoo’s funeral.

After hearing the news, one brother headed to Kansas City from Florida, and another drove up from Tennessee.

“We miss him very much,” Aye said. “We think about him every day. Any place in the house, we see his soul.”

On Monday, a steady stream of friends made their way to the small two-story house in the Northeast area to pay respects and express condolences. It is custom for visitors to remove their shoes and set them by the doorway, not far from where Htoo’s still sat.

Before settling in Kansas City in 2013, the family spent 13 years in a refugee camp in Thailand, where Htoo learned English. He had been only 4 months old when the family fled from Myanmar to Thailand.

“We wanted to live in peace and not have to worry,” Aye said. “Our lives here have been better. They (we) can go to school and they have better opportunity.

“If (we) stayed there, maybe we die.”

Htoo, who was the youngest of five children, took advantage of his freedom. Aside from fishing, Htoo enjoyed playing football and soccer. He easily made friends and enjoyed both playing and working on his computer.

“He loved his life here,” Aye said. “Sometimes we played together. We take pictures together with mom. We want to keep memories like that.”

School officials called Htoo a quiet, responsible young man.

Tommy Herrera, principal at East High School, said Htoo was “a very academically engaged student.” He said Htoo often tutored other students who were learning English after school.

Htoo was a member of the cross-country team and “a very positive kid,” Herrera said. “He was the type of student every teacher would want in class.”

The school offered counseling for any students or faculty members having a difficult time dealing with the loss.

Aye said her parents don’t speak English.

When a reporter requested Aye to ask her father about Htoo’s passing, emotion quickly overcame Ya Nah, 53.

He didn’t speak.

He slowly lowered his head and began to sob.

The Star’s Mará Rose Williams contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Teen refugee who drowned remembered for his passion for family, friends and fishing."