Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
Gregorio “Junior” Ortega, a 20-year-old from Lawrence, Massachusetts is in a coma after he almost drowned in a wave pool at a New England water park. According to relative, the near drowning happened while Ortega was attending his 13-year-old’s brother’s birthday.
The swimming accident occurred around noon while Ortega was in the wave pool at Water Country park. His cousin, Nicole Villafane, says that that he struggled in the water for some time before he was rescued.
She believes that the wave pool was too crowded that day and there should have been more than four lifeguards on duty. The lifeguards and park staff performed CPR on Ortega until firefighters and paramedics arrived. According to Portsmouth, N.H. Fire Chief Steven Achilles, it is not uncommon for the fire department to get calls at least once or twice a week during the summer about injuries that occurred at the park.
In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston drowning accidents lawyers if someone you love drowned or was seriously injured in a near drowning accident. Altman & Altman LLP will be happy to offer you a free case consultation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 10 people die daily from accidental drowning. Kids in the under 5 age group and males are the most at risk.
Near drowning can be catastrophic incidents. They may leave a victim with permanent brain damage and other disabilities that may require a lifetime or professional, full-time care.
It is the responsibility of pool owners to make sure that the proper safety precautions are instituted to prevent Massachusetts drowning accidents and injuries. Pools must be properly supervised, barriers should be installed to keep people (kids, especially) out of the water when there is no supervision, and, when applicable, there should be lifeguards on duty. Rescue or emergency equipment should be located nearby. Pools should be kept clean so that anyone who is drowning is easily visible and overcrowding should be avoided.
Public pool owners and private pool owners can both be held liable for a Boston drowning death or near drowning accident if negligence was a factor. One of our Massachusetts premises liability lawyers can help you explore your legal options.
Lawrence man critical after Water Country wave pool rescue, EagleTribune, July 29, 2014
Lawrence Man Nearly Drowns in Crowded Water Country Pool, Boston.com, July 29, 2014
