TRAGIC video shows a grandmother struggling in the water then floating lifeless for 20 minutes as other swimmers walked by her, seemingly clueless that she was drowning.
Leticia Gonzalez Triplett, 58, died on February 4, 2024, after going for a swim at the North Decatur Las Vegas Athletic Club.
For 25 minutes, Triplett struggled to swim, holding on to the side of the pool as she kicked her legs.
The surveillance video from the pool showed her head dip underwater as she grabbed the side wall and pulled herself onto the pool steps.
Triplett struggled to remain above water as she held onto the handrail.
Meanwhile, several people were seen in the footage walking around Triplett, going into the pool where the woman was struggling to stay alive.
This continued even as Triplett drowned and her lifeless body floated in the water.
Before going into the pool, Triplett was spotted walking on crutches, said Oganna Brown, an attorney for the LVAC gym.
It’s unclear if she called for help during her struggle as the other swimmers appeared to be oblivious to her situation.
Triplett’s seemingly lifeless body floated in the pool facedown for about 10 minutes as people appeared to look at her but did not stop to help.
A swimmer in another pool noticed her and dove in to pull her to the edge, where other people helped her get out.
CPR was performed by an LVAC employee until paramedics arrived, however, Triplett was pronounced dead shortly after.
Brown said Triplett’s death was from “cardiac arrest,” saying that the gym hasn’t seen a similar incident in decades.
“In 46 years, there has not been a drowning event,” said Brown.
“This is an anomaly, and this was not a direct drowning event. This was a cardiac arrest.”
However, an investigation by the Southern Nevada Health District found that there was another near-drowning situation at LVAC a few days after Triplett’s death, reported local CBS affiliate KLAS-TV.
Joel Henriod, an attorney for SNHD, claimed that there was no lifeguard on duty when Triplett died.
He argued that it shouldn’t have been on the other swimmers to notice her struggle.
“It’s not their job to be looking,” he said. “Unfortunately, you might as well be alone.”
Triplett served 24 years in the US Air Force after enlisting following her high school graduation.
According to her obituary, she “loved” the military and “received many medals and ribbons for her outstanding service.”
She is survived by her son and five grandchildren and would “always remember birthdays and was the first one to send a birthday card.”
“She enjoyed spending time at home and watching her favorite TV shows. She also loved Facetiming her kids and grandkids,” read her obituary.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Las Vegas Athletic Club for comment.
