Mother of Cami Grinnell, who
drowned at a NJ public park last September, entrusted her
daughter's safety to camp personnel and lifeguards
Cherry Hill, NJ (May 24, 2017) - Yvonne Grinnell's birthday is
today, but instead of celebrating she continues to mourn the death
last September 2nd of her four-year-old daughter Cami.
"You can't imagine what it's like to see your baby full of life in
the morning before camp, and later that day she is on life support
having drowned in a public park - without any flotation device and
in front of lifeguards."
Ms. Grinnell, a Burlington County, NJ resident, spoke publicly
about the incident at Lake Absegami (Bass River State Park) for the
first time today at a news conference with her attorneys. Lawyers
from Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, P.C., of
Philadelphia, and Grungo Colarulo LLC, Cherry Hill, NJ, are
following Ms. Grinnell's request to do everything possible to
ensure that what happened to Cami can never happen again to any
child at any swimming area. To date they have filed claims notices,
as required, with the State of New Jersey and will soon follow up
with a civil complaint.
"Cami Grinnell was a precious child who deserved to live a long
and bountiful life," said Larry Bendesky, of SMBB. "Camp personnel
and park staff failed her miserably, to the point where she was
denied use of the very flotation device - inflatable arm floats -
that had any chance of saving her life," he said. "Instead of her
life being guarded at Lake Absegami, it was ignored, which led to
her death," he said.
Richard Grungo, of Grungo Colarulo, added, "Cami's mother is
grateful to the park visitors who came to her daughter's aid that
day, but also knows there are more eyewitnesses that can help
explain this tragedy. We join in her public appeal for any
additional information that could be helpful in the ongoing
investigation into her drowning."
"I waited my whole life for my little
angel, adopting her after fostering children for so many years,"
said Ms. Grinnell. "And can you imagine what it's like every day
trying to explain to Charles, Cami's big (nine-year-old) brother,
who pulled her limp body from the lake, why she is gone. We must
find out what happened and why, and prevent it from happening
again."
Contacts: Larry Bendesky,
Adam Pantano, K. Andrew Heinold, SMBB
lbendesky@smbb.com, apantano@smbb.com, dheinold@smbb.com