Destiny Morgan and her children went on a vacation in 2021 to Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Tragedy struck when Morgan’s youngest child, 4-year-old Demi Williams, drowned in one of the resort’s pools, which had no lifeguards and was poorly lit. Efforts were made to resuscitate Demi, but she was pronounced dead later that night. Demi’s death was at least the third fatal drowning of a child at the resort between 2018 and 2021. Morgan is now seeking to change the safety protocols at the resort and has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
The wrongful death lawsuit against Crown Reef accuses the resort of creating unsafe conditions by failing to have a lifeguard on duty and not providing enough staff to protect guests. The lawsuit blames Demi’s death on the resort’s negligent and reckless actions. Crown Reef’s general manager and attorney did not respond to inquiries. Morgan described Demi as a sweet and happy child who loved to dance and compliment people. The family’s vacation had been going well until the tragic incident occurred at the resort.
Demi’s drowning at Crown Reef occurred when she decided to ride the lazy river by herself, which was only 3 feet deep. Despite the basics of swimming, Demi was allowed to ride the river by herself while her siblings rode in another raft. When Demi did not emerge from the lazy river after her turn, her mother became concerned. Demi was found in one of the resort’s pools, not breathing. Attempts were made to resuscitate her, but the lifeguard, AED, and resort staff were not immediately available.
Crown Reef is not required by state law to have lifeguards at pools or the lazy river, only at waterslides. Although the state does not require AEDs to be placed near swimming areas, the department responsible for overseeing public swimming facilities confirmed that Crown Reef met the necessary requirements during inspections. Morgan’s legal team is advocating for more lifeguards, better lighting, and increased staff to improve safety at the resort. Due to the lack of security cameras in the area, their lawsuit seeks to bring about significant safety improvements.
In a tragic twist, Demi’s death was not the first at Crown Reef. In 2018, 7-year-old Malazya Fayall drowned in one of the resort’s pools, leading her mother to file a lawsuit against the resort. Despite settlement, Crown Reef did not admit responsibility, and the lawsuits brought by the grieving mothers prompted the resort to face scrutiny for safety practices. Both mothers faced initial charges related to their daughters’ deaths, but these were eventually dropped. Morgan expressed the profound impact Demi’s death has had on her family, and she shared the heart-wrenching memories of her children praying for their sister to wake up as they witnessed the tragedy unfold.
