North Texas Spa Sued Over Drowning Death in Sensory Deprivation Tank
Lawyers with Texas-based firm Deans & Lyons have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Denton County against The Float Spot, alleging the company’s negligence led to the drowning death of a 71-year-old woman in one of its aquatic sensory deprivation tanks.
In a release, the firm said Gloria Fanning died April 7, having spent eight days on life support following her first visit to the spa, located in Flower Mound, Texas. Advertised as the “world’s first tranquility studio,” The Float Spot encloses customers in sensory deprivation tanks filled with highly salinated water that increases a person’s buoyancy. The company touts myriad health benefits, while downplaying any potential risks from the enclosed floatation tanks, the firm said.
The release continues:
As a first-time customer, Ms. Fanning was given a brief orientation then left alone in the tank. According to the lawsuit, she later was discovered in a state of “distress” by an employee who initially called the business owner for guidance rather than calling 911 for assistance. Once paramedics finally arrived, they found Ms. Fanning unresponsive. She never regained consciousness.
“Gloria was promised an experience that was beneficial and completely safe. The company’s own website claims that accidental drowning is not possible, which is patently untrue and contradicts reports of others across the country who have died in a similar fashion,” said the Fanning family’s attorney, Michael Lyons, co-founder of Deans & Lyons.
“This is a rapidly expanding industry that lacks any of the regulation necessary to ensure that customers are kept safe inside these aquatic sensory deprivation tanks. It is too late for Gloria, but this has to change.”
The lawsuit, filed May 31, is Greta S. Anthony and David Porter v. Fc Acqua, LLC, dba The Float Spot and Raymond J. Thoma, Cause No. 18-4802-367 in Denton County District Court.
