Aliyah Jaico tragically lost her life in a horrifying incident at a hotel pool in Texas. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, the 8-year-old girl was swimming with her family when she was “violently sucked” into a gap in the pool’s flow system. Hours later, her lifeless body was discovered inside a large pipe in the pool area, as reported by the Houston police.
The incident, which occurred at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow hotel, has prompted Aliyah’s family to file a wrongful-death lawsuit against the hotel and its parent company, Hilton Worldwide Holdings. They are also holding the local operator of the hotel, Unique Crowne Hospitality, liable for “gross negligence.” The family is seeking at least $1 million in damages.
The lawsuit claims that there was an issue with the flow of water inside the pool, which caused Aliyah to be pulled into an unsecured open gap. The lawsuit also alleges that it took the fire department 13 hours to retrieve Aliyah’s body from the pipe, further exacerbating the tragedy.
Houston police reported that Aliyah was reported missing around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday after swimming with her family in a lazy river style pool. She was found at approximately 11:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead by paramedics. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
This devastating incident raises concerns about pool safety and the responsibility of hotel operators to ensure the well-being of their guests. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled Aliyah’s death as accidental, attributing it to drowning and mechanical asphyxia.
The pool where the incident occurred has been closed until further notice and requires re-inspection, as highlighted in an aquatic facility inspection report by the Houston Health Department. Violations, such as the absence of drain cover documentation, were found during the inspection. Once these violations are rectified, the pool can be reopened.
In response to the tragedy, Hilton expressed deep sadness and extended condolences to Aliyah’s family. However, the company emphasized that it is not directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the independently-owned and operated hotel.
Unique Crowne Hospitality, the hotel operator, also expressed their condolences and stated their commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for guests. They pledged full cooperation with the authorities investigating the incident.
While the incident itself is immensely tragic, it also raises questions about the franchising agreements and due diligence conducted by hotel