Authorities in Houston are currently investigating the heartbreaking death of an 8-year-old girl, Aliyah Jaico, whose lifeless body was discovered inside a large pipe at a local hotel's lazy river pool. The young girl had been enjoying a day of swimming with her family when the unfortunate incident occurred.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has determined that Aliyah's death was the result of an accidental drowning, coupled with mechanical asphyxia. The specifics of the incident are still under scrutiny as her autopsy report is pending.
According to police reports, Aliyah was found lodged inside a large pipe within the pool area and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene. The family's attorney revealed that the rescue operation involved breaking concrete and cutting pipes to extract the young girl, describing the ordeal as truly horrific.
A lawsuit has been filed against the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow, where the family was staying at the time of the tragedy. The legal action alleges that Aliyah was pulled into an unsecured opening in the pool's flow system, which was reported to be between 12 to 16 inches wide.
Both the hotel and Hilton Worldwide Holdings have been named as defendants in the lawsuit. While a Hilton spokesperson expressed deep sorrow over the incident, they clarified that the property is independently owned and operated by a third party. The spokesperson also mentioned that Hilton had not yet been served with the lawsuit and refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation.
The law office representing the hotel ownership has not provided any immediate response to inquiries regarding the matter. Aliyah's mother, Jose Daniela Jaico Ahumada, shared in the lawsuit that the family had rented the room at the hotel to enjoy a day of swimming, a cherished activity for Aliyah.
