Veteran, Who Traveled for Granddaughter’s College Graduation, Allegedly ‘Boiled Alive’ in Hotel Shower: Lawsuit

A grandfather died aft he was allegedly "boiled alive” successful a edifice bathtub, a suit states.

Terril Johnson, 77, was staying astatine nan Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites astatine nan San Jose Airport connected May 22, erstwhile his family said they recovered him “unresponsive” and “partially submerged successful h2o truthful dangerously basking that they could not touch him without burning themselves,” according to a wrongful decease suit they revenge successful nan Superior Court of California connected Oct. 15.

Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran, was astatine nan edifice up of attending his granddaughter’s graduation from San Jose State University nan pursuing day, per nan suit.

His family said they “struggled desperately to save" him successful nan bathtub and watched “in scary arsenic his tegument peeled distant from his body.”

First responders pronounced Johnson dormant astatine nan scene, according to nan lawsuit.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner ruled that nan origin of decease was "severe scalding burns of neck, torso and extremities complicating hypertension."

They stated that Johnson had burns connected astir 33.5% of his body, including his cervix and torso, according to nan lawsuit. 

The suit from Johnson's family claims that nan edifice violated a authorities plumbing codification that requires showers to beryllium equipped pinch a valve to limit maximum h2o temperature.

Johnson's loved ones called nan incident a “horrific and wholly preventable tragedy." The family is now seeking unspecified damages successful a proceedings by jury.

Per nan suit, Johnson, a hubby and begetter of two, was from Fort Wayne, Ind., wherever he graduated “at nan apical of his class” successful precocious school. After serving successful nan Vietnam War, he attended Indiana Tech and Ivy Tech, wherever he besides later taught.

“Terril was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, remembered for his faith, activity ethic, mentorship, and committedness to family and community,” nan suit said of Johnson, adding that he was "in bully spirits and enjoying retirement" astatine nan clip of his death.

He is survived by his woman of 54 years, a boy and 4 grandchildren.

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PEOPLE reached retired to Marriott but did not person an contiguous response.