PHOENIX — The family of a 15-year-old who drowned at Show Low Lake while at football camp is planning to sue for $50 million, according to a notice of claim obtained by 12News.
Christopher Hampton, a student at Cesar Chavez High School, went missing on the lake on July 17 and his body was found the next day at the bottom of the lake.
Lawyers for Hampton's family said in the document that Show Low lake is designated as "non-swimming," and blames several different entities for the tragic death including the school, the school district, the coach and assistant principal, the City of Show Low and Arizona Game & Fish.
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"Chris' death wasn't just a preventable one, it was caused by the gross negligence of the adults who were responsible of taking care of him," the notice of claim states. "It is difficult to imagine more careless behavior by adults tasked with ensuring the safety of minors, than herding them into a dangerous mountain lake with zero supervision and zero safety measures."
The notice said the City of Show Low and Arizona Game & Fish officials are "well aware that large groups of kids go swimming in the lake despite the dangerous conditions."
The family is seeking $50 million for the mental anguish Hampton suffered while "clinging to a buoy" while his group left the lake for the day without him.
Medical examiner releases final autopsy report
The following narrative of the drowning was released by the medical examiner:
“The decedent is a 15-year-old male who was reportedly swimming in the Show Low Lake with multiple other youths following football practice earlier in the day. He reportedly had swum from the end of the dock to a buoy that was approximately 30 yards away, and the water was approximately 25 deep in that area of the lake. After the group had left the lake and returned to where they were staying, the decedent was noted as being missing.”
The medical examiner noted evidence of Hampton being submerged in the water including pale and wrinkled hands. Internal evidence of submersion was also noted including hyperinflation of the lungs and fluid within the sphenoid sinus.
The report also said no drugs were found in Hampton's system and he had no chronic medical conditions.
Hampton was left at the lake by his group
A report dated July 18 from the Navajo County Medical Examiner's Office, the agency that responded to the drowning, was also released as part of the final report. It said Hampton's absence was only noticed as the group was getting ready to leave for the day.
"When the group was ready to leave the lake, a head count was not conducted, and the group began to leave. One of the students asked where the decedent was and no one had seen him for some time," the report said. "When the group went back to check for him, he was nowhere to be seen. A quick search was conducted and 911 was called."
The Navajo County ME also noted that Hampton might not have been able to swim.
The notice of claim said that Hampton's mother was contacted by a student who had snuck a phone on the trip and not the adults responsible for him.