Tragic Scuba Incident: Lawsuit Reveals Shocking Details of 12-Year-Old’s Underwater Survival

The parents of a Texas girl who tragically drowned during a scuba diving certification class are taking legal action, claiming the incident could have been avoided. They have filed a lawsuit against two agencies involved, asserting the preventability of their daughter’s death.

On August 16, 2025, 12-year-old Dylan Harrison participated in a private open water scuba diving class that her parents had arranged through Scubatoys, a dive shop in the area, as reported by FOX 4.

Upon arriving at The Scuba Ranch, a scuba training facility in Terrell, the family was informed that Dylan would join a group of seven students for the class.

The lawsuit further states that the divemaster reassured Dylan’s parents before the class by saying, “I will not take my eyes off your daughter,” indicating a promise of close supervision.

The tragic incident involving Dylan Harrison, who drowned during the class in Terrell, Texas, has been highlighted in the lawsuit filed by her grieving family.

At the time of the class, Assistant Chief Deputy for the Collin County Sheriff’s Office William Armstrong was employed part-time as a scuba instructor, and had previously worked a full day as a deputy followed by a full overnight shift as a security officer at an investment firm, FOX 4 reported. 

As Dylan and her 12-year-old swimming buddy entered the water, Armstrong allegedly did not check if Dylan was properly weighted, the lawsuit reportedly states. 

Dylan was last seen alive when the class initially entered the water at 9:36 a.m. and resurfaced at 10:12 a.m. after a miscommunication with a student.

Dylan Harrison died in a scuba diving accident while taking a class at the Scuba Ranch in Terrell, Texas on Aug. 16, 2025, according to a lawsuit. (Google Maps)

The lawsuit alleges that emergency services were not called to the scene until about 15 minutes later. 

“Based on the amount of air left in [Dylan’s] scuba tank on the surface before she went missing and the amount of air left in the tank when she was found, it can be surmised that [she] was alive and breathing off her tank for several minutes after she was last seen,” the lawsuit revealed, according to FOX 4. “During this time, [Dylan] was alone, in poor visibility, and unable to reach the surface.”

Following the incident, Armstrong resigned from his position with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

The private open water class was reportedly purchased from Scubatoys in Carrollton, Texas, according to the lawsuit. (Google Maps)

The 40-page lawsuit alleges Dylan’s death was preventable and the result of multiple failures after the industry turned a blind eye to safety concerns for several years.

Attorneys for the Harrison family reportedly point to a 2017 video of a staff meeting, in which Scubatoy owner Joe Johnson allegedly made dismissive comments about the safety protocols within the company’s classes, FOX 4 reported.

“All I know is we’ve killed, what? 4 people? 5 people? And we’ve never even done a deposition,”  Johnson said in the video. “Our insurance company just settles. John Witherspoon says we can kill two people a year and ‘we are fine.’”

Scubatoys, NAUI, PADI, the Scuba Ranch and the Harrison family’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital was unable to immediately locate an attorney representing Armstrong.