Hotel guest dies after being burned by scorching 150-degree shower

The family of an elderly Tennessee man was awarded $2 million in a wrongful death lawsuit after he suffered fatal injuries from 150-degree water in a scalding-hot shower at a hotel on a work trip.

Alex Chronis, a 76-year-old food vendor, was burned when he took a shower at the Econo Lodge in Erlanger, Kentucky, about 10 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio, during a work trip in November 2021, the Knoxville News Sentinal reported.

The water was over 150 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause third-degree burns within a matter of seconds, the paper reported, citing the lawsuit.

Moments after entering the scorching water Chronis collapsed in the shower but was pulled out by two coworkers staying in the room who had heard his screams, the lawsuit claimed. 3 Alex Chronis, 76, was burned when he took a shower at the Econo Lodge in Erlanger, Kentucky, in 2021. Dignity Memorial

Chronis used nonprescription medication to treat his burns and later attended a local festival where he worked selling food. Only later did he visit the emergency room for treatment, however, he quickly left against medical advice so he could return to work, according to the newspaper.

Within two days, Chronis returned to the hospital and did not leave for nearly five months.

While in the hospital he underwent surgical grafting for his burn wounds and underwent treatment for other, unspecified issues he developed while in the hospital’s care, the paper reported. 3 Chronis’ family was awarded $2 million in his wrongful death lawsuit. Kentucky Tourism

In April 2022, Chronis stabilized enough to be sent to a rehabilitation facility in his hometown of Knoxville, but his condition did not improve. That June he returned to the hospital, where he eventually died.

Chronis family filed a lawsuit that same year, according to Law&Crime.

A Tennessee jury found the hotel owner, Sanjay Patel, failed to exercise ordinary care in inspecting and maintaining the hotel room in a reasonably safe condition for the use of their guests,” according to the newspaper. 3 Chronis’ family filed a lawsuit the same year he died. Booking.com

The judgment, filed July 3, gave Chronis’ estate $1.3 million to cover medical expenses, $250,000 for pain and suffering, $16,000 for funeral costs and $500,000 for punitive damages.

The family feels that the jury was able to see the wrongful conduct by the defendant and the resulting horrendous injuries which Alex suffered, Jeff Blankenship, a lawyer for the family, told Law&Crime. His death was caused by complications from the serious scalding wounds that were so easily preventable had the hotel management simply had a procedure in place for their customers safety.

The verdict is subject to appeal, according to court documents.