The grieving family of the 8-year-old who died last weekend after being sucked into the pool plumbing of a hotel have announced their intent to sue.
As per saddening reports, Aliyah Jaico vanished on Saturday (March 23) while swimming in the lazy river at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow.
The little girl’s disappearance prompted panic among her family members and a search was initiated by local authorities. Tragically, Aliyah was later discovered 20 feet deep inside the pool’s plumbing.
Lawyers representing Aliyah’s family revealed that the 8-year-old was “violently sucked into a 12 to 16-inch unsecured gap in the swimming pool flow system”. Her family is now suing the hotel for over $1m in damages.
Reports state that Daniela Jaico, Aliyah’s mother, raised the alarm upon realizing that her daughter was missing at around 4:50 p.m. She asked hotel bosses to let her check the CCTV footage, though it’s alleged that management “denied her request and explained that police would have to be present to view the video surveillance.”
Ms Jaico subsequently called the police, who examined the CCTV after arriving at the hotel. Heartbreakingly, the footage showed Aliyah being dragged under the water and failing to resurface.
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.
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