Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
Two men in their 20s drowned in a Florida river this week after jumping into the water to “retrieve an object,” according to reporting from local media Wednesday.
The men — 20-year-old Wilbert Rivera Cifuentes and 21-year-old Deyfri Roblero Morales — were in a group of about five or six people at the St. Johns River on July 21. The group was at the Palatka Riverfront’s gazebo area, shrimping from a dock when the tragedy occurred.
Several people allegedly jumped in after the two, who were allegedly unable to swim, before they were pulled under, officials with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office told reporters.
Their bodies were found the next morning on July 22.
The St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, is known for experiencing strong tidal currents during different phases of the tide cycle.
Additional details, including what item the group was trying to retrieve when the drowning occurred was not immediately available Thursday.
With summer in full swing, more people are heading to the water for boating, snorkeling, or spending long afternoons by the pool. While these activities offer fun and relaxation, they also come with serious risks. Knowing key safety protocols can help prevent injuries and save lives. No amount of preparation can guarantee complete protection, but education and awareness can significantly reduce response time in an emergency which can often make all the difference.
At Leesfield & Partners, a personal injury law firm with nearly five decades of experience handling water-related injury cases, our attorneys know just how quickly a fun-filled day on the can become a family’s worst nightmare.
Leesfield & Partners
From boating under the influence cases to hotels and other properties failing to equip their pools with essential safety measures, Leesfield & Partners’ seasoned trial attorneys have handled nearly every type of water-related injury imaginable. Our attorneys have secured numerous record and leading verdicts and settlements throughout Florida.
Data from the Florida Department of Health shows that approximately enough children under the age of 5 years old drown in the state every year to fill several classrooms. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 years old, according to the Safe Children Coalition, an organization dedicated to promoting education and awareness surrounding this pressing issue.
There were about 60 drowning deaths in the state for the first half of 2024, according to the latest available data. Of the 60 people who tragically lost their lives, about 46 of them were children.
Whether in tragic pool drownings or while out at sea, safety should never be underestimated. Parents should always be on guard, watching over their children and ensuring that they are wearing the appropriate flotation devices. Below are essential swimming safety tips to help you respond effectively in the event of an emergency.
- All pools should be equipped with child safety fences and locks.
- Adults should take a CPR course to know what to do in case of an emergency.
- Invest in swimming classes and water safety courses for children and adults. No one expects tragedy but knowing what to do in case of an emergency can save a life.
- Dress children in brightly colored swimsuits so that, if the unthinkable happens, they are easier to spot in the water.
- Make sure all external doors leading to a pool area or body of water like a lake or ocean are equipped with proper locks and alarms that way, even if a child manages to unlock the door, you will know that it has been opened.
Previous Pool Drowning Cases
Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Trial Attorney Eric Shane are representing a family whose 2-year-old drowned at a Central Florida pool.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a historic settlement in a case involving a swimming pool incident at a Hotel Resort Orlando in Osceola County. In that case, our client’s son was swimming when he was caught in the suction of the pool’s drain. The child could not be removed because the hotel failed to have an emergency shut off switch.
For nearly 10 minutes, our client’s child remained underwater. As a result, he was later diagnosed with brain damage that would require life-long medical care. This case, which was handled by Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, is the largest result of its kind in Osceola County.
One family was forever changed when a father and husband lost his wife and two young daughters due to the U.S. Navy’s failure to maintain its pier in a safe condition.
“Ivan Grayson, tormented by the mind-numbing horror of the tragedy that wiped his family from the face of the earth, desperately needs to know why this happened,” U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King said of the case.
Grayson was awarded $2.95 million for the loss of his family.
Previously, the firm secured a seven-figure settlement for a family whose toddler drowned in South Florida. In that case, an inadequately installed child safety fence around the pool was found at the home.
Previously, the firm secured a $575,000 settlement in the drowning death of a man against a Florida boat tour company.
If your loved one was involved in a drowning incident in Florida, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 800-836-6400 to see if you may be eligible to make a claim.
