The heartbroken parents of a 4-year-old girl who drowned at a Florida Airbnb earlier this month plan to sue the property rental giant claiming it advertised the home as “family friendly,” even though it lacked legally mandated safety features.
Little Kennedi Ray was found dead at the bottom of the swimming pool at the Airbnb her parents were renting in Miami-Dade County on March 5, NBC South Florida reported.
“I lost my child,” her mother, Adenah Francis, said during an emotional press conference Tuesday. “I lost my 4-year-old. She only got four years here. We loved her so much. We miss her so much. I’m never gonna hear my child laugh again. I just want a hug.”
Kennedi, who had autism, wandered out into the backyard as her parents slept and fell into the pool.
Her family, who were visiting from Atlanta, say they want to see more accountability from rental platforms that list properties as “family friendly,” but don’t have the legally required safety measures in place.
Under Florida law, swimming pools must have a fence or barrier surrounding them, or there must be alarms on the doors leading to the pool, in an effort to prevent children from drowning.
Kennedi’s parents are planning to sue Airbnb, but in the meantime are demanding that the property be removed from rental listings.
“I just want them to fix it or put it down so that nobody ever has to go through this, because I’m lost,” Kennedi’s mother said through tears during the press conference.
The family’s lawyer says there must be accountability, since the property was listed as being “family friendly,” but wasn’t up to safety codes.
“How on earth can a house be advertised as family-friendly when it has a pool and none of the safety measures necessary, effectively in place,” the family’s attorney, Adam Finkel, said during the press conference. “No barriers, no fence, doors without alarms. We all know why those laws are in place, and they’re in place to prevent that tragedy that we are here to discuss.”
In a statement to The Independent, Airbnb said its “hearts go out to the Ray family.”
“Airbnb has supported recent bipartisan efforts in the Florida state legislature to strengthen safety standards for all homes with pools. We also continue to work with partners on education campaigns and initiatives to promote water safety – including discounted pool fences for hosts and in-app safety tips for guests booking stays near water.”
The Haggard Law Firm, which has represented many families of children who have drowned at vacation rentals, told The Independent they expected the lawsuit to be filed in the coming weeks.
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