Grieving mother speaks out after 4-year-old daughter was found dead in Airbnb pool

Grieving parents say they plan to take legal action against Airbnb after the tragic death of their four-year-old daughter, who was found at the bottom of a pool during a vacation.

The couple argues that the rental platform is at fault for advertising the property as “family friendly.” Their daughter, Kennedi Ray, who was autistic, drowned in the pool of a Florida Airbnb on March 5, according to NBC Miami.

How did the tragic accident unfold?

According to the parents, Kennedi wandered into the backyard while they were asleep and fell into the pool at the Miami-Dade County home.

The family, who are from Atlanta, are also urging the property owner to take the listing down from all rental platforms.

Speaking outside the property on Tuesday, Kennedi’s mother, Adenah Francis, expressed her grief. As reported by The U.S. Sun, she said: “I lost my child. 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 wanna hug.” She added, “I am a mother, and I wouldn’t want any of you to go through this.”

The family to launch legal proceedings against Airbnb

Their attorney alleges that the home failed to meet local pool safety requirements, claiming it lacked features such as a cover, alarm system, protective barrier, or secure door latch.

“A child got access to the backyard. No alarm went off, no barriers were there, and we lost Kennedi,” said attorney Adam Finkel of the Haggard Law Firm during a press conference. He also questioned the listing, saying, “How on earth can a house be advertised as family-friendly when it has a pool and none of the safety measures are effectively in place?”

Although the listing has been removed from Airbnb, reports indicate it is still available on other short-term rental websites.

In response, Airbnb described the incident as a “tragedy” and extended condolences to the family. “The loss of a child is a tragedy and our hearts go out to the Ray family,” a spokesperson said.

The company also noted its involvement in efforts to improve safety standards, stating: “Airbnb has supported recent bipartisan efforts in the Florida state legislature to strengthen safety standards for all homes with pools.”

Additionally, Airbnb highlighted its ongoing safety initiatives: “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.”

Featured Image. Credit: WTVJ