A tragic incident at Oceans of Fun water park in Kansas City has led to a lawsuit filed by the parents of six-year-old Adeline Stewart, who drowned in the Coconut Cove pool last summer. The lawsuit targets both the water park and its parent company, Cedar Fair, alleging inadequate lifeguard training and a pattern of hiring inexperienced staff.
According to the lawsuit filed by Therron and Debra Stewart, lifeguards failed to notice Adeline's distress for a significant period, despite urgent attempts by other park visitors to alert them. Furthermore, the suit claims that the lifeguards lacked proper first aid training to effectively respond to the emergency. The Stewarts are seeking a jury trial to address their daughter's wrongful death.
Following the incident, Oceans of Fun implemented safety changes, including stricter life jacket requirements based on height and mandatory adult supervision for children under 3½ feet tall. However, these changes came too late for Adeline. The lawsuit underscores the importance of comprehensive lifeguard training and appropriate staffing at water parks to ensure the safety of all visitors.
