The family of a 77-year-old California man is taking legal action against a hotel, alleging that dangerously hot shower water led to his tragic death. Terril Johnson, who had traveled from Los Angeles to San Jose to attend his granddaughter’s college graduation, died from severe burns sustained in the shower of his hotel room.

Documents obtained by Law&Crime reveal that Johnson had planned to witness his granddaughter’s commencement at San Jose State University. The day before the ceremony, on May 22, he checked into the Fairfield Inn & Suites near San Jose Airport. Tragically, a shower there turned deadly, as the lawsuit claims the water was so scalding it “effectively boiled him alive.”

Johnson was discovered unresponsive in the shower by his grandson and unfortunately never regained consciousness. The lawsuit, filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court on October 15, details the harrowing scene, noting that family members who attempted to assist found the water so hot they couldn’t immediately remove him from the bathtub. In their desperate efforts, they witnessed his skin peeling away.

In a heart-wrenching discovery, Johnson’s family encountered him “partially submerged” in the water, unable to touch him without risking burns themselves. The lawsuit highlights the devastating impact of this incident on the family and seeks to hold the hotel accountable for the unsafe conditions. For further details, the original report is accessible here.

When Johnson’s family members found their loved one still “partially submerged” in the water, “they could not touch him without burning themselves.”

First responders pronounced Johnson dead at the scene. An autopsy stated that he died as a result of “severe scalding burns” to more than 30% of his body. His high blood pressure was also a factor in his death.

According to the lawsuit, the water temperature coming out of the shower at the Marriott International-owned hotel was 135 degrees Fahrenheit, well over the 120-degree maximum allowed by California’s Plumbing Code, The Mercury News reported. Water temperatures that high can cause third-degree burns in mere seconds.

The lawsuit stated that it was not known exactly how long Johnson was in the shower before he was found by his grandson. According to the lawsuit, he was discovered “within minutes” of getting into the water.

The Johnson family, including Johnson’s widow, to whom he was married for 54 years, is suing Marriott International for wrongful death and emotional distress. Marriott International did not immediately respond to a request for a comment from Law&Crime.

Attorneys representing the Johnson family wrote in the lawsuit, “This was not a freak accident; it was the direct result of Defendants’ gross negligence and failure to meet even basic safety obligations.”