4-Year-Old Girl Drowns in Lazy River at South Carolina Resort, Mother Files Lawsuit

In a tragic incident that occurred in 2021, 4-year-old Demi Williams drowned in the lazy river at the Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Demi's mother, Destiny Morgan, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the resort, alleging negligence due to the lack of lifeguards, exterior cameras, and adequate lighting at the time of the incident.

According to the lawsuit, Demi was allowed to enter the lazy river, which was about 3 feet deep, despite being only 3.5 feet tall. After Demi failed to return, her mother found her being given CPR by strangers. Demi was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control stated that the resort was not required by law to have lifeguards at their lazy rivers or pools without slides, but they must have signs posted saying "No Lifeguard on Duty Swim at Your Own Risk." However, the lawsuit claims that the resort failed to provide a safe environment for Demi and other guests, leading to her tragic death.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the importance of water safety measures at resorts and waterparks, especially for young children. It raises questions about the legal requirements and responsibilities of such establishments in ensuring the safety of their guests.

The Crown Reef Resort has faced other drowning incidents in the past. In 2018, a 7-year-old girl drowned in the resort pool, leading to a $500,000 settlement with the family in 2020. Shortly after Demi's incident, another child, 5-year-old Shane Chester, also drowned at a different Myrtle Beach hotel.

The CEO of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance has encouraged resorts to consider providing lifeguards and other safety measures, even though they are not legally required, to help prevent such tragedies. The lawsuit filed by Demi's mother seeks to hold the Crown Reef Resort accountable for the alleged negligence that led to her daughter's death.

Key Takeaways

• 4-year-old Demi Williams drowned in lazy river at Crown Reef Resort in 2021.
• Demi's mother filed wrongful death lawsuit alleging resort's negligence.
• Resort not legally required to have lifeguards, but failed to ensure guest safety.
• Crown Reef Resort faced other drowning incidents in 2018 and 2023.
• Lawsuit seeks to hold resort accountable for negligence leading to Demi's death.