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Grandmother’s final moments captured as people unaware

A woman’s final moments were caught on camera as she struggled for life in a gym pool – what emerged on the footage was shocking.

Moment no one helps drowning grandmother
Moment no one helps drowning grandmother

WARNING: Disturbing content.

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 in Nevada, United States.

For 25 minutes, Ms Triplett struggled to swim, holding on to the side of the pool as she kicked her legs, The Sun reported.

The surveillance video from the pool showed her head dip underwater as she grabbed the side wall and pulled herself onto the pool steps.

Ms Triplett struggled to remain above water as she held onto the handrail.

A grandmother of five drowned in a pool earlier this year while other swimmers seemed to ignore her. Picture: KLAS
A grandmother of five drowned in a pool earlier this year while other swimmers seemed to ignore her. Picture: KLAS

Meanwhile, several people were seen in the footage walking around Ms Triplett, going into the pool where the woman was struggling to stay alive.

This continued even as Ms Triplett drowned and her lifeless body floated in the water.

Before going into the pool, Ms Triplett was spotted walking on crutches, said Oganna Brown, an lawyer 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.

Ms 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 dived in to pull her to the edge, where other people helped her get out.

Leticia Gonzales Triplett, 58, died after 20 minutes of thrashing in the water. Picture: Perches Funeral Homes
Leticia Gonzales Triplett, 58, died after 20 minutes of thrashing in the water. Picture: Perches Funeral Homes

CPR was performed by an LVAC employee until paramedics arrived, however, Ms Triplett was pronounced dead shortly after.

Brown said Ms 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 Ms Triplett’s death, reported local CBS affiliate KLAS-TV.

Joel Henriod, an lawyer for SNHD, claimed that there was no lifeguard on duty when Ms Triplett died.

Her body was left floating in the water for several minutes. Picture: Facebook
Her body was left floating in the water for several minutes. Picture: Facebook

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.”

Ms 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 favourite 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.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and reproduced with permission

Originally published as Grandmother’s final moments captured as people unaware

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/grandmothers-final-moments-captured-as-people-unaware/news-story/eafbea967b7532af3254ab1b0a1a3a09