Young boy drowned at Sheraton Vistana Resort

[Cyberc]

Hi Tuggers

Friends of mine are currently staying at SVR and Thursday last week a young boy went missing.

Police including helicopters, dogs and volunteers searched for the boy but he was later found dead, drowned in a lake at the resort.

Is this something that has happened before at SVR? - according to my friends after the boy was found, if you didn’t know what had happened you wouldn’t know cause the employees at the resort didn’t show any signs or feelings about a child just drowning at their workplace.

Drowning of autistic toddler highlights deeper issue of recurring incidents in Florida | FOX 35 Orlando

A little boy, missing for hours, was found dead Thursday afternoon in a body of water at the Sheraton Vistana Resort.

www.fox35orlando.com

 

[dioxide45]

Certainly a very tragic situation. Retention ponds and lakes are especially dangerous and Florida has hundreds of thousands of them. It is easy to fall into them and can be difficult to get out. Even for an adult. I don't really understand your last sentence. Why would the resort make it known to others guests that were unaware?

 

[pedro47]

Certainly a very tragic situation. Retention ponds and lakes are especially dangerous and Florida has hundreds of thousands of them. It is easy to fall into them and can be difficult to get out. Even for an adult. I don't really understand your last sentence. Why would the resort make it known to others guests that were unaware?

Where were the parents of this autistic child ?

 

[Cyberc]

Certainly a very tragic situation. Retention ponds and lakes are especially dangerous and Florida has hundreds of thousands of them. It is easy to fall into them and can be difficult to get out. Even for an adult. I don't really understand your last sentence. Why would the resort make it known to others guests that were unaware?

Had it been me and someone died at my workplace I wouldn’t be able to continue business as usual but my mood etc would be affected - it would be a topic of discussion and not something to sweep under the rug as nothing happened.

 

[Cyberc]

Where were the parents of this autistic child ?

I don’t know. Even with an autistic child I don’t think you can monitor them 24/7 - or at least that’s my assumption

 

[DanCali]

I don’t know. Even with an autistic child I don’t think you can monitor them 24/7 - or at least that’s my assumption

He was 3... you don't usually let a 3-year old wander off, especially in an unfamiliar environment.

Those who live in FL tend to remember this tragedy that happened in Disney property well:

https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/us/alligator-attacks-child-disney-florida/index.html

Now access to that lagoon is all fenced up, but even in that random photo I took from our balcony you can see a little child walking alone towards the fence. You never know what kids might do...

 

[Hindsite]

Had it been me and someone died at my workplace I wouldn’t be able to continue business as usual but my mood etc would be affected - it would be a topic of discussion and not something to sweep under the rug as nothing happened.

Based on my experience of these types of thing, it most likely is a topic of discussion, but not for public airing, both out of respect for the family and so as not to prejudice any statutory investigations.

 

[alexinorlando]

What was the resort supposed to do? Shut down operations? Stop checking in guest?

I was at the resort when this occurred. The resort and its staff were very actively involved in searching for the missing child and sent multiple messages (over 5 messages sent from 7am until noon that morning) and pictures out via the resort text line. Security and law enforcement were very active in searching for the boy that day.

Unfortunately resort operations and life must go on. Resorts and its works must work through hurricanes, natural disasters, wars, pandemics and they must continue to serve guest with a smile on their face during any and all of this weather that smile is real or not. So let’s all take this into consideration before we imply they don’t care or “show feelings”.

 

[chriskre]

Where were the parents of this autistic child ?

Let me tell you that even while you are being vigilant autistic kids are like houdinis and are very good at escaping.
They just don't "get it". We had several kids in the room so it's hard sometimes to keep track of everyone.
The doors to these resorts are easy for kids to open and escape.
Our room at Royal Vista this week did not have the usual bracket at the top, you can tell it was missing and they hadn't
replaced it yet because they are getting ready to remodel so they aren't fixing alot of things.
Well our little autistic houdini escaped into the hallway in a nano second and put us into a panic.
She could have easily been taken or disappeared but luckily nothing happened but we were in a highrise.
Vistana is an open catwalk resort so had we been there I can't imagine what the outcome would have been.

 

[VacationForever]

Had it been me and someone died at my workplace I wouldn’t be able to continue business as usual but my mood etc would be affected - it would be a topic of discussion and not something to sweep under the rug as nothing happened.

No. The resort staff were being professional instead of being a "topic of discussion". That would be gossip to make a a topic of discussion.

 

[dioxide45]

Follow up on this.

Mother of Toddler Who Drowned in Retention Pond Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Florida Resort​

Mother of Toddler Who Drowned in Retention Pond Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Florida Resort

The mother of a 3-year-old boy found dead earlier this year in a Florida resort’s retention pond has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the resort. Tarina Akbari’s lawsuit names Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, Vistana Management, Inc., Vistana Development, Inc. and Vistana Spa...

www.crimeonline.com

 

[cubigbird]

My question is what parent lets a 3 year old wander off alone so this happens. At what point is the parenting responsibility no longer required?

Follow up on this.

Mother of Toddler Who Drowned in Retention Pond Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Florida Resort​

Mother of Toddler Who Drowned in Retention Pond Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Florida Resort

The mother of a 3-year-old boy found dead earlier this year in a Florida resort’s retention pond has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the resort. Tarina Akbari’s lawsuit names Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, Vistana Management, Inc., Vistana Development, Inc. and Vistana Spa...

www.crimeonline.com

 

[dioxide45]

My question is what parent lets a 3 year old wander off alone so this happens. At what point is the parenting responsibility no longer required?

I'm not a parent, but I would assume you can't have an eye on them 24/7. Perhaps someone is in the bedroom watching TV and kids playing in the living room. Kid goes out the door and no one notices. Perhaps at a pool and each parent thinks the other one is watching the child. It can happen quite easily.

 

[cubigbird]

I'm not a parent, but I would assume you can't have an eye on them 24/7. Perhaps someone is in the bedroom watching TV and kids playing in the living room. Kid goes out the door and no one notices. Perhaps at a pool and each parent thinks the other one is watching the child. It can happen quite easily.

This woman is sadly looking to make $$ off her kid’s death. Instead she should be facing charges. Maybe she did, we don’t know? As a parent of multiple kids (who are now grown), we had our eyes on our kids at all times when they were young. At night we made sure they wouldn’t be a flight risk. Again, at what point does the parenting responsibility end, falling on the resort?

Curious to how these legal costs incurred by the resort impact owners maintenance fees?

 

[RX8]

The original news story, as well as the updated December 28th story about the lawsuit, both state that the child had autism. From a different article in which the mom was interviewed in July 2024 a different fact is disclosed - “Tarina Akbari said the family believed her son may have been on the spectrum, however, she said he was never diagnosed with autism.”

Exclusive: Mother of toddler who drowned at an Orlando resort wants fencing around ponds

The body of three-year-old Rakim Akbari was found in a pond at the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas in Orlando. Rakim’s mother spoke exclusively with Action News Jax.

www.actionnewsjax.com

Maybe her lawyer is advising her to continue to say that he had autism in an attempt to help her case, maybe she is doing it on her own, we don’t really know. This is just an observation and it doesn’t take away from the tragedy of the child losing his life regardless of who is at fault.

 

[easyrider]

It's easy for a 3 year old to wander off even if you are watching them, autistic or not. Probably the worse thing that can happen happend. It's a sad thing for sure and I'm sure attorneys on both sides will be busy.

Bill

 

[alexinorlando]

Our son is a normal, healthy 12 year old. He has had a few incidents of sleep walking (not often and never had a serious situation thank God). Since we noticed he does this sometimes, we have purchased and used stick on door alarms/chimes that we bring with us when we travel. We set them at night and a loud ringing alarm will go off if the door is opened while we are sleeping.

 

[Cyberc]

This is absurd. A tragic incident and now the family is trying to make money.

IMO it’s a parent responsibility to keep your child safe and to know where it is at all times. Instead of asking what others did or didn’t do maybe they should look at themselves and ask what did we do wrong

 

[pedro47]

The original news story, as well as the updated December 28th story about the lawsuit, both state that the child had autism. From the article - “Tarina Akbari said the family believed her son may have been on the spectrum, however, she said he was never diagnosed with autism.”

Exclusive: Mother of toddler who drowned at an Orlando resort wants fencing around ponds

The body of three-year-old Rakim Akbari was found in a pond at the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas in Orlando. Rakim’s mother spoke exclusively with Action News Jax.

www.actionnewsjax.com

Maybe her lawyer is advising her to continue to say that he had autism in an attempt to help her case, maybe she is doing it on her own, we don’t really know. This is just an observation and it doesn’t take away from the tragedy of the child losing his life regardless of who is at fault.

A three year old child that has autism and someone let that child unattended at a resort. That is an amazing story.

How many Tugger parents would let their three years child old go unattended ?

 

[Cyberc]

A three year old child that has autism and someone let that child unattended at a resort. That is an amazing story.

How many Tugger parents would let their three years child old unattended ?

I think I can answer for everyone and say no parents leave their children unattended. At least not a 3 yo as they grow older you do but certainly not at 3 yo.
This is one of the reasons infant parenting is hard, you need to keep an eye on your children at all times when they grow up. If you can’t you use a playpen or similar. Something can and will happen if you leave them unattended.

A 3 yo will always wander off if they get the chance, the world is a big unexplored place. That’s another reason daycare is fenced.

 

[dioxide45]

This is absurd. A tragic incident and now the family is trying to make money.

IMO it’s a parent responsibility to keep your child safe and to know where it is at all times. Instead of asking what others did or didn’t do maybe they should look at themselves and ask what did we do wrong

This woman is sadly looking to make $$ off her kid’s death. Instead she should be facing charges. Maybe she did, we don’t know? As a parent of multiple kids (who are now grown), we had our eyes on our kids at all times when they were young. At night we made sure they wouldn’t be a flight risk. Again, at what point does the parenting responsibility end, falling on the resort?

I'm not sure this parent is doing anything that any other parent in the same situation wouldn't do. Very well could have been approached by an ambulance chasing attorney or even took it upon herself to contact an attorney. Most parents would do the same. She very well may be culpable, but that doesn't necessarily mean there isn't some level of liability by the resort or resort manager. That will be up to the court to decide.

Curious to how these legal costs incurred by the resort impact owners maintenance fees?

I would expect the HOA carries insurance to cover these types of situations. The same should be true of the management company (Marriott Vacations and Vistana). I would suspect that they will look to just settle with insurance paying out any damages minus any applicable deductible. Chances of this going to any kind of trial are low.

The impact on maintenance fees may depend on what happens after. Will the insurance premiums increase? Will any settlement or even the insurance company require any kind of remediation with the retention ponds? Based on the lawsuit the ponds meet state mandated minimum requirements. The mother mentioned that she wanted fencing around ponds. That is a big ask as this would impact hundreds of thousands of retention ponds all over Florida. I suspect in the end the only significant impact on maintenance fees might just be an increase in insurance premium given that the risk is proven.

 

[geist1223]

Kids can do the weirdest things. When my middle son was about 8 or 9 we woke up one Saturday morning and he was not in the House, Yard, or Neighborhood. His Bike was missing. I was a Senior Deputy District Attorney. Quick call to 911 and the City Police, Sheriff's Office, and State Police were notified. He was found shortly there after riding his Bike a couple miles away. He was transported Home. Long serious talk. He was not going anywhere. He had woken up and decided to go for a Bike Ride. It never crossed his mind that his folks would be going nuts. Grounded for a Month. Many times before that and after that he, his younger sister, and I would go for Bike Rides for 3 to 10 miles.

 

[rapmarks]

Had it been me and someone died at my workplace I wouldn’t be able to continue business as usual but my mood etc would be affected - it would be a topic of discussion and not something to sweep under the rug as nothing happened.

They were probably ordered to not speak to guests about it
Many years ago at Christmas mountain , a young woman who was a waitress was killed in a car crash within a half mile of the resort. Being a resident and at that time active golfer, we had been waited on by her three times on the week. But any attempt to speak to staff (who knew us well) was rebuffed and they certainly were not answering questions

 

[rapmarks]

A three year old child that has autism and someone let that child unattended at a resort. That is an amazing story.

How many Tugger parents would let their three years child old unattended ?

One summer my husband was the nature director at a summer camp. My daughter was three. After lunch , I brought our dishes to the tray and my daughter disappeared. We searched and could not find her. Turned out one of the teachers decided to take her for a walk and then left her by the lake. It happened so fast and how any adult could be is dumb is beyond me! it could have been a tragedy. At that time my daughter had severe language disability. One of the teachers made fun of the way she talked. And this was at a camp for children with learning problems.

 

[klpca]

One of the stories that I read said that the boy wandered off while the dad (ex-husband, not the custodial parent, maybe unfamiliar with his sleep schedule?) was sleeping. If that is truly what happened, it is a tragedy and it is true, fencing would have helped. Of course, there was probably an extra lock on the door that wasn't utilized as well. It seems like there is all kinds of blame to go around here but at the end of day a little guy is dead. This is just an awful, sad story.