Family Sues YMCA After Son Drowned

HUNTINGTON, NY -- The family of a high school senior who drowned at the Huntington YMCA (New York) last February has filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages, according to Newsday.

The YMCA of Long Island oversees the Huntington facility and they were named as one of the defendants as well. The summons and complaint was filed on Sept. 11 in New York State Supreme Court, according to Newsday. The other defendants named are two lifeguards who were on duty at the time of the drowning, a third lifeguard on the premises at the time and the aquatics coordinator, also on the premises at the time of the accident.

The newspaper reported that Marc Dawson, a lifeguard at the Huntington YMCA, drowned in a 4-foot deep lap pool as he practiced holding his breath for SEAL training. He died a week after the accident, which occurred on February 18.

Also according to the newspaper report, the complaint alleges the defendants were “reckless, careless, and negligent in the ownership, operation, management, maintenance, control, life guarding and supervision of the subject premises.”

“What the family wants is justice,” Michael Perrotta, the lawyer representing the Dawson family, tells the newspaper. “They want the Y to be held responsible for the death of their son.”

It appears the family wants a boat load of money as well as justice.