KAPOLEI, Hawaii (KHON2) — It was May 13, 2023, at the Kapolei Aquatics Center when Tehani Kealoha, a senior at Moanalua High School, had just raced in her first swim event and was doing warm-down laps when she suffered symptoms of cardiac arrest. The family’s attorney alleges what happened next was not only unacceptable but preventable.
Get Hawaii’s latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You
“The consensus was that no one knew what was going on. No one knew what to do. Everything took a long time to occur, and that’s the unfortunate thing,” said attorney Robert Miyashita.
The lawsuit alleges no lifeguard intervention or CPR was initiated until five minutes after Tehani was pulled from the pool, and it took seven minutes for the defibrillator to be located and used. Her mother performed CPR herself, but it was too late.
“I remember kneeling down and telling her to open her eyes, to telling her to wake up,” said Jamie Kealoha tearfully.
The Kealoha family filed a lawsuit against the swimming organization, USA Swimming, the private club she competed with, Kamehameha Swim Club and the Kapolei Aquatics Center, accusing the defendants of gross negligence.
“It’s a swim organization and it’s a pool facility, and they should have implemented these safety policies before even starting the swim event,” said Miyashita.
In an eerie coincidence, Tehani’s twin brother experienced a similar medical emergency three months after Tehani’s death. The difference, the family said, was the prompt response and effective action.
“I think I sort of just like stopped in the middle of the pool, and then the lifeguards noticed right away and pulled me out of the water and started doing CPR on me and they had an AED,” said Dustin Kealoha, Tehani’s brother.
Dustin Kealoha is now a freshman at Dartmouth College. He gave up swimming under doctor’s recommendations after determining he had a heart condition known as Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy that wasn’t known until after the incident. He said he and Tehani were close growing up.
“I wear this every day,” said Kealoha showing off his blue bracelet that was handed out during her funeral service. “I put it on as I’m going to class every day. And I think this is part of what helps me to feel connected to her, especially while being far from home.”
“Every time I hear music that we listen to, I get emotional no matter, no matter where I am and I just miss her so much,” said Tehani’s father, Walter Kealoha.
The family is seeking damages for pain and suffering and wants better emergency protocols in place for future swim events.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
“Justice for Tehani and also just, I really would like to see pools to be safe for all kids, for everyone you know, making sure there are lifeguards and equipment available,” said Jamie Kealoha.
KHON2 has reached out to the defendants in the lawsuit and is waiting for a response.
#Death #negligence #Family #sues #teen #swimmer039s #tragedy
Leave a Reply