Due to a faulty child safety lock, two young boys were able to get through a door and fall into a backyard pool where one of them tragically lost his life.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Buying things online, especially from abroad, is usually cheaper. But, some caution needs to be exercised, especially if it's safety equipment. Online retailers can sell many items without the necessary tests and regulations a country would usually require.
A lawsuit has been filed against Amazon and Okefan, claiming that they sold a "dangerous and defective" item. It led to their two children being able to access their backyard while the parents were asleep.
Mark Bernabe and Jasmine Coleman had purchased the defective safety lock from Amazon. It was fitted to the sliding door into their backyard, intended to prevent the two toddlers from accessing the backyard while the parents were unaware.
But, as the parents napped, the two boys pulled the door open. Footage from their home shows the toddlers resting a chair against the door, disengaging the safety lock. The two boys were then able to get into the backyard, where they both fell into the pool.
Mother's intuition must have kicked in because Jasmine can be seen running to the backyard and pulling one of the toddlers from the shallow end. Her husband then appeared and found the other boy in the deep end. Both boys were unconscious.
However, due to the failed safety lock, it was too late for one of the boys. The parents performed CPR until they could be rushed to Northridge Hospital. Here, one pulled through, but another lost his life.
Couple Look To Sue Amazon For $2 Million
The couple are putting the onus on Amazon and Okefan for selling a defective safety lock. Their lawsuit states that they were sold an item that didn't work as advertised which ultimately cost them the life of their child.
They are looking to claim a minimum of $2 million in damages. They claim they installed the device properly and that Amazon "failed to conduct adequate testing" of the child safety lock. However, Amazon has made a counterclaim, pinning the blame on the grieving parents.
