Three Florida Children Narrowly Escape Electrocution in Pool Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on June 2, 2014

Orlando personal injury lawyers would like to remind central Florida pool owners to have their pool equipment checked on a regular basis to ensure that their pools are safe for everyone to enjoy. A recent incident in California involving three Florida children had a happy ending but illustrates the importance of maintaining pool equipment and conducting regular checks.

The incident occurred in Palm Desert, CA, when the water in a pool full of children suddenly began conducting electricity, trapping several underwater. If not for the quick actions of several adults who risked their own lives to save the kids, this could have been a very tragic accident indeed.

The incident began when a little girl touched a metal handrail while exiting the pool. She was immediately paralyzed by the current and was underwater when an adult near her on the steps realized that something was wrong. Moving swiftly, the man grabbed the child and received a dangerous shock but was able to pull the helpless child from the water. As people began to sense that something was wrong, children began leaping out of the pool in every direction. As the pool cleared, the adults noticed the lifeless body of another child under the surface. The boy’s grandfather leaped into the pool and was able to pull the child’s limp body out of the water. The boy was successfully resuscitated and thankfully, no one was seriously injured or killed.

Accident investigators found that the pool’s pumps had not been grounded properly, so when one of the pumps malfunctioned, the water in the pool became electrified. They say that this is a common problem in swimming pools and hot tubs and whenever anyone in the water begins feeling a tingling sensation, they should get out of the water immediately and have the system inspected by a licensed pool contractor or electrician. Many contractors and electricians offer routine inspections for free, so it behooves everyone who owns a swimming pool or hot tub to be proactive and have their systems checked regularly.

Although this accident occurred in another state, swimming pool accidents in Florida are a common and occasionally tragic item in the news. If someone is injured in a pool accident caused by a negligent pool owner, they may be entitled to seek damages against the owner to help pay medical bills and other expenses. If you or someone in your immediate family is injured in an accident and you’d like to speak with an Orlando swimming pool accident lawyer, call Mr. Cunningham today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.