The distraught family of the 8-year-old who drowned last weekend after getting pulled into a hotel’s swimming pool plumbing has declared their intention to file a lawsuit.
Alayah Jaico disappeared on Saturday, March 23, while swimming in the lazy river at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow, according to heartbreaking reports.
Family members became alarmed after the tiny child vanished, and local officials launched a search. Sadly, Aliyah was eventually found 20 feet down in the plumbing of the pool.
The 8-year-old was “violently sucked into a 12 to 16-inch unsecured gap in the swimming pool flow system,” according to attorneys for Aliyah’s family. Now, her family is suing the hotel for damages exceeding $1 million.
According to reports, at approximately 4:50 p.m., Aliyah’s mother, Daniela Jaico, called in to report her daughter missing. The management of the hotel allegedly “denied her request and explained that police would have to be present to view the video surveillance” when she wanted to examine the CCTV footage.
After that, Ms. Jaico called the police, who came to the hotel and looked through the CCTV. The video, which was heartbreaking, showed Aliyah being pulled beneath the water and not coming to the surface.
In an emotional online post, Ms Jaico said: “I hope to see you again one day and you’ll keep looking at me and you’ll get that big smile that was contagious with joy. You gave yourself to love always with your heart so noble.
“I will love you for all eternity. You are the most beautiful thing god has given me and after every battle we went through together we didn’t win this one. Rest in peace my beautiful Wera. Forever you”.
A spokesperson with the Hilton, meanwhile, told Sky News: “Hilton offers our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones in the tragic loss of a young girl at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow.
“This property is independently owned and operated by a third party. Hilton does not own, manage, or control the day-to-day operations of the property and does not employ any of the property’s staff or its third-party operators.”
They continued: “We understand that the property is cooperating fully with all authorities investigating the incident.”
Our thoughts are with this poor little girl’s family at this terrible time.
