The parents of 11 year-old Jesse Watlington, who was killed after being struck by lightning during football practice, have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit in Lee County against Southwest Florida Christian Academy and the church that governs the school, McGregor Baptist Church. The lawsuit details the alleged flagrant violations, misconduct, and negligence of academy and the church, which caused Watlington’s death.
Attorneys Willie Gary and Sekou Gary of the Stuart, Florida based law firm of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, P.L., claimed that eight 6th-grade boys “were sent out the doors of the school gymnasium into a football field without any adult supervision. A torrential downpour ensued shortly thereafter, and lightning strikes followed. One coach remained in his vehicle, while the other coach continued to meet with the other students in the locker room. The third lightning strike hit Watlington. Nearly 10 minutes passed before CPR was attempted and his heart was stopped for almost 20 minutes until his arrival at the emergency room.”
In addition, the lawsuit contends that academy is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), and should therefore abide by the rules and regulations governing school athletics. The FHSAA mandates that each member school must have an operational automated external defibrillator and that the school must ensure that its employees and coaches receive the proper training to use the device. In addition, all employees and coaching staff are required to complete a course in cardio pulmonary resuscitation or a basic first aid course that includes cardio pulmonary resuscitation, claimed the attorneys.
They added that the FHSAA also issues guidelines for lightning safety. “On the day of the incident, there was no lightning detection device on the practice field, nor did the school have an evacuation plan in the event of lightning,” the attorneys maintained. “Southwest Florida Christian Academy took a calculated risk by not implementing the necessary safety precautions.”
