Virginia YMCA Hit With $20M Lawsuit Over 5-Year-Old's Drowning

The mother of a 5-year-old who drowned at a Virginia YMCA is now suing the facility for the boy's death. 

According to the New York Post, the mother of Auston Wingo Jr. alleges the Pulaski County YMCA had a single lifeguard and three childcare workers present to supervise at least 38 kids, ages 5 to 10, swimming of the afternoon her son died in 2021. 

While Wingo, who couldn't swim, was in the pool, the lifeguard “began to look at what is thought to be her cellular phone while there were no fewer than 34 program children in the pool." Wingo struggled in eight feet of water an eventually went under and died. He was just 36 feet in front of the lifeguard stand when he drowned. 

Wingo's mother says no at the YMCA asked about her son's swimming ability and did not test him to find out how well he could swim. 

He “lost his grip on the side of the pool and began struggling,” all within direct view of the lifeguard — but no one noticed him “struggling to stay above water,” the suit claims, noting that none of the three childcare workers were properly placed on the deck where they could help in the event a swimmer was in danger. 

Even after it those present noticed that Wingo was "floating face down underwater," neither the lifeguard or the childcare workers attempted CPR, and the lifeguard did not know where the AED was, the suit alleges. 

Once taken to the hospital, emergency workers found that one of Wingo's lungs was full of water. He died of his injuries later that night. 

“Society demands accountability for this little boy who will never experience a full life,” the attorneys said in a statement. “Many of the prior employees of the YMCA have moved on – something Auston will never do – so this lawsuit represents the family’s effort to seek justice for the loss of their son and to obtain the accountability they deserve.”

Wingo's mother is seeking $15 million in compensatory damages and an additional $5 million in punitive damages. 

“We are aware that YMCA of Pulaski County has been named in a lawsuit stemming from his death,” Pulaski County YMCA CEO Dave Adkins said. “While we cannot comment on pending litigation, the Y takes all allegations of misdoing very seriously and are fully cooperating in all facets of the legal process.