A beach resort within the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone may face legal action from the family of a five-year-old child who died after a jellyfish sting last month.
Jahaziel Michaellie Maningding announced on Monday that her family intends to sue All Hands Beach Resort in San Bernardo, Olongapo City for negligence that led to the death of her daughter, Kiera, who was stung by a jellyfish on June 28.
“Yes, but we are still making arrangements on who will handle the case,” Maningding said in an Inquirer.net report.
Maningding reported that there were no warnings, verbal or otherwise, about the potential danger of jellyfish in the water, despite recent incidents. She claimed that the resort staff and a bystander provided first aid by pouring vinegar on Kiera’s legs, but the resort was unprepared for the medical emergency, lacking an available vehicle to transport her daughter to the hospital.
Another resort-goer eventually helped get Kiera to the Allied Care Experts Medical Center-Baypointe, where she was intubated but succumbed to anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
Josefina Buena, legal counsel for All Hands Beach, disputed Maningding’s account regarding the absence of an emergency vehicle. “All Hands (Beach) has a vehicle and a driver but was away at the time taking care of other things,” Buena said in a radio interview. She added that they managed to find another way to transport the child to the hospital.
Buena described the incident as an “isolated case,” emphasizing that the resort conducts regular jellyfish clearing operations. “This is just an isolated case. Not all of the people who swim have been stung by a jellyfish. But, as we say, accidents do happen and no one wanted this to happen,” she said.