A young couple and their unborn daughter died tragically while snorkeling in full-face snorkel masks off the coast of Maui on September 14, 2024. Many other people have died under similar circumstances since 2014, when full-face masks entered the market.
The full-face design of these snorkel masks can inherently turn someone’s survival instinct against them when they react to water leaking into the mask. First, full face masks are more likely to leak than traditional masks. This is because the seal between the full-face mask and the snorkeler’s face is not customized, making water intrusion likely. Also, the breathing tube is prone to letting water splash into the mask when small waves roll over, or if the snorkeler inadvertently dips their head too far beneath the surface.
When water leaks into a conventional snorkel mask, the snorkeler reflexively spits out the mouthpiece. This can be done quickly, and there is no need for the snorkeler to use their hands. But when water leaks into a full-face mask, the snorkeler reflexively turns their face upward to breathe. Because the snorkeler is on the surface of the ocean, the water inside their mask might not drain sufficiently to expose the person’s mouth or nose to air. This can cause the snorkeler to take a deep breath of water, incapacitating them almost immediately.
If a struggling snorkeler is unable to breathe, they will instinctively try to claw the mask off of their face. Because the design of full-face snorkel masks necessitates contact between the mask and the snorkeler’s face, the masks must be strapped tightly to the snorkeler’s head. This makes it difficult to pull the mask off quickly, assuming the person can stand on the sea floor. If the person is treading water, pulling the mask off may be impossible. If the snorkeler’s lungs are already filled with water, it takes only a moment for their strength to be exhausted and for them to drown.
Two other couples, vacationing together with the Tsaruks, were also snorkeling on the day Billy and Sophia drowned. They reported experiencing “a loss of breath” while wearing the same full-face snorkel masks as Billy and Sophia. One woman stated, “I felt like the mask was just suffocating me and I had to rip my mask off to breathe.”
When a consumer product causes injury or death, any entity in the supply chain may be liable – from the designing and manufacturing company to the retail seller. Entities outside the supply chain could also be liable for reasons other than the product design. For example, the owner or manager of the premises where the injury occurred may be at fault if the location could have been made safer. Another example is if the proprietor of a service, like a guided tour, could have made the activity safer for participants – then the proprietor might be liable.
The tragic loss of Billy, Sophia, and their daughter might have been prevented by better mask design, a clear warning of the dangers inherent in the full-face snorkel mask design, safer premises, or in other ways. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed while using a full-face snorkeling mask, you should reach out to knowledgeable personal injury attorneys immediately. Danko Meredith staff are standing by to take your call: 650-453-3600.
Danko Meredith has a long history of getting justice for the families of wrongful death victims and injured individuals. With offices in California and on Maui, and attorneys licensed in both states, we are uniquely positioned to help visitors who suffer injuries during their stay.
