Eight-Year-Old Girl's Tragic Death Leads to Lawsuit
Tragedy struck at the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow Hotel on Saturday when an eight-year-old girl, Aliyah Lynette Jaico, met an untimely death. The girl was allegedly violently sucked into a large pipe in the hotel's swimming pool. The victim's devastated family has since catapulted a lawsuit against Hilton, seeking damages worth $1 million.
(Photo : GettyImeages/INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
How did the Incident Happen?
Surprisingly, while making merry in the lazy river, Aliyah suddenly went missing around 4:50 p.m. This was unheard of, and it was soon discovered that she had been pulled into a pipe. Richard Nava, the family's attorney, revealed heartbreaking details during a Tuesday press conference. He described how Aliyah's body was sucked 20 feet back into a hole and pipe. The pool's concrete had to be chiseled and pipe severed to recover the little girl.
According to the details lodged in the lawsuit, Aliyah was yanked into a "12 to 16-inch unsecured open gap in the swimming pool flow system". The lawsuit claim details how Aliyah's disappearance triggered a frantic search among her family members. Left without any leads, her mother, Jose Daniela Jaico Ahumada, sought the hotel's help to use video surveillance to find clues about her child's whereabouts.
The hotel management, however, refused her request, indicating that police would need to be present to view the video surveillance. Left with no choice, the mother called 911 at around 5:45 p.m., reporting her daughter missing.
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Discovery of the Girl and Ensuing Actions
Security footage revealed that the little girl went underwater and never resurfaced. A team was then assembled to drain the pool, attach video cameras to poles, and inspect the pipes, where Aliyah's lifeless body was later discovered wedged. Tim Miller of the Texas Equusearch participated in the search and expressed disbelief that the young girl could have been sucked so far into the pipe. He also stated that the hole's function was to pump water into and not out of the pool.
The death of young Aliyah, whose funeral was conducted on Thursday, stirred profound discussions and blame. Nava stated that the death could have been avoided, seeking justice for the little girl. It is also reported that Aliyah's five-year-old sister might have been sucked into the gap but was rescued by their 13-year-old sister. The exact details remain unclear.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful death from the hotel for running an establishment with many safety violations. The pool's poor state was also highlighted. Unique Crowne Hospitality LLC operates and manages the hotel but does not own the day-to-day operations.
Both Unique Crowne Hospitality LLC and Hilton Worldwide Holdings INC have found their names listed as defendants in this case. A spokesperson from Hilton expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and extended condolences to Aliyah's family, confirming that the property is independently owned and operated by a third party.
The police confirmed a girl's death at the facility due to "apparent drowning." However, they are waiting for the autopsy results to be proven. The lawsuit alleges operator negligence, failure to provide a safe place to swim, and inadequate and timely inspections resulting in the sad incident. Operators are also accused of not having barriers to prevent users from being sucked into the gap and neglecting to reduce or eliminate the risk posed by the gap.
The incident reverberates as the lawsuit progresses, signifying the need for better safety measures in hotel pool facilities.
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