Jania Ashlynn
A couple has filed a $5 million lawsuit against a tour company in Hawaii. They are claiming that they were abandoned in the middle of the ocean while on a snorkeling excursion. They were visiting the islands for their honeymoon.
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Alexander Burckle and Elizabeth Webster celebrated their nuptials in September of 2021 in Maui. They booked a snorkeling session with Sail Maui to a small island near Maui, Lanai.
The complaint in the lawsuit states that after the boat arrived at the excursion location, the captain of the boat informed the group that they have one hour to explore the area before they move on to another location.
The couple claims that they weren’t given any guidance about a specific return time for the trip. They’re also saying that they weren’t given instructions on how to return to the boat or any emergency protocols.
Disorganized
The couple’s attorney, Jared A. Washkowitz, said that the entire process of the activity was completely unprofessional and disorganized. They “didn’t give set boundaries for snorkeling.” The attorney also mentioned that they didn’t identify any lifeguards or ensure any methods of safety for guests.
According to the couple, the waters were clear and calm at first, but the water became a bit rougher. They tried to reach the boat, but it had already started to move away from the area.
“Our facts show that they did a headcount, came up two short, then they did another headcount, came up two short,” Washkowitz shared. During the final headcount, they accounted for the guests, noted that they were missing two, and still chose to move on.
Another guest commented on the disorganization of the excursion. “Everybody kept moving, so they easily got missed,” she shared.
That’s scary.