Relatives of a San Jose grandfather who died from severe burns in a hotel shower are filing a lawsuit, KGO reports. The lawsuit claims that Terril Johnson, believed to be in his 70s, had just arrived at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites near the San Jose airport in May, following a long drive from Los Angeles. He was in town to attend his granddaughter’s graduation from San Jose State University, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Family members say Johnson was found unconscious in the shower by his grandson, submerged in water so hot that relatives burned themselves while trying to pull him out. Court documents state that Johnson’s skin was peeling, and family members struggled to administer CPR.
The complaint alleges that Johnson was “effectively boiled alive,” with the shower water measured between 134 and 136 degrees Fahrenheit—far above the 120-degree maximum allowed by the California Plumbing Code. The Santa Clara County medical examiner determined that Johnson died from burns covering more than a third of his body.
The family is pursuing claims for wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress, asserting that the hotel’s failure to maintain basic safety standards contributed to the tragedy.
The Mercury News reports it is unclear why Johnson could not escape the shower, whether his high blood pressure played a role, or how long he was in the water before being discovered. Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran and retired senior technician from Los Angeles’ transit authority, had moved to California after growing up in Indiana. He was married to his high school sweetheart for 54 years and had two children and four grandchildren.
Marriott International has not yet issued a comment on the lawsuit.