News Summary
The family of Yannick Ngaleu, who drowned while rescuing swimmers from a rip current, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several lifeguard services in Myrtle Beach. The lawsuit claims negligence due to the absence of trained lifeguards and the dangerous dual-role guarding policy. Ngaleu’s heroic actions to save others ultimately cost him his life, raising urgent concerns about beach safety standards and lifeguard protocols. Authorities have since ended the dual-role lifeguarding practice.
Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The family of Yannick Ngaleu, a heroic young man who drowned while attempting to rescue swimmers caught in a dangerous rip current, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several lifeguard service companies. Ngaleu, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on June 13, 2022, lost his life at a popular beach location near 7th Ave N after he bravely intervened to save others without any lifeguard assistance.
The lawsuit, submitted by Ngaleu’s family and attorneys, claims negligence on the part of Lack’s Beach Service, John’s Beach Service, and Central Beach Services of Myrtle Beach, the defendants named in the case. The document states that the absence of trained lifeguards in the area at the time contributed to Ngaleu’s decision to enter the water himself when he saw swimmers in distress.
According to the lawsuit, Ngaleu successfully rescued both a child and the child’s father from the rip current but was ultimately swept away by the same dangerous conditions. Tragically, his body was discovered washed ashore at 54th Ave N around 3:30 a.m. the following morning. This incident highlighted a serious concern regarding the presence and readiness of lifeguards during times of emergency.
At the time of Ngaleu’s death, the practice of dual-role lifeguarding was in effect, which required lifeguards to perform both lifeguarding duties and manage beach rentals. This practice has since come under fire due to its potential hazards and was identified in the lawsuit as a contributing factor to Ngaleu’s tragic demise. The U.S. Lifesaving Association has condemned dual-role lifeguarding for the risks it poses to public safety, emphasizing that lifeguards should focus solely on their lifesaving responsibilities.
In response to the incident and similar drowning cases, Myrtle Beach ended its dual-role lifeguarding policy in May 2023, revising its franchise agreement with Lack’s Beach Service to ensure that lifeguards can focus exclusively on their lifesaving duties. This decision followed a significant ruling by a jury in Horry County, which awarded $20.7 million in a separate drowning case from 2018, prompting local authorities to reevaluate safety measures.
In previous legal rulings, Judge Kristi F. Curtis has expressed concerns about the dangerous nature of dual-role guarding, further supporting arguments presented in Ngaleu’s lawsuit. The lawsuit includes broad claims of survival action, wrongful death, and liability directed toward the lifeguard service companies involved, asserting that their negligence and failure to act contributed directly to Ngaleu’s death.
Ngaleu’s family is seeking justice not only for their loss but also to raise awareness about the need for improved safety standards at public beaches. They argue that the tragedy could have been prevented had appropriate lifeguard services been available and functioning as intended during a critical situation. The lawsuit has brought attention to persistent concerns regarding beach safety and the responsibilities of lifeguard services to protect beachgoers effectively.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils posed by rip currents and the importance of having trained lifeguards onsite during peak beach hours. Authorities in Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas have been urged to carefully consider lifeguard training protocols and operational procedures to ensure that no more lives are lost to preventable tragedies.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it is anticipated that further discussions will emerge around lifeguard responsibilities and public safety measures aimed at reducing drowning incidents along the beaches of Myrtle Beach.
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Additional Resources
- WBTW: Myrtle Beach Lifeguard Companies Responsible for Birthday Drowning Lawsuit
- Myrtle Beach Online: Myrtle Beach Drowning Lawsuit
- Live 5 News: Myrtle Beach Lifeguard Company Settles Lawsuit for $1M
- WPDE: Jury Awards Family $20 Million in Drowning Case
- WMBF News: Myrtle Beach Lifeguard Company Settlement Video
- Wikipedia: Rip Current
- Google Search: Lifeguard Responsibility
- Google Scholar: Lifeguard Training Standards
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lifeguards
- Google News: Drowning Incidents Myrtle Beach
