Myrtle Beach lifeguards failed to save Maryland man from drowning in ocean, suit says

The brother of a 21-year-old man who drowned while swimming in Myrtle Beach filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday against the lifeguard services that allegedly failed to rescue him.

Yannick Deumeni Ngaleu, of Silver Spring, Maryland, ventured into the water to help another man pull his son from a rip current in June 2022, according to previous reporting. He subsequently went missing and later washed ashore after 3 a.m. near 54th Avenue North.

Deumeni Ngaleu was at the beach near 7th Avenue North with family to celebrate his birthday when he saw a child and his father struggling in the water, the lawsuit says. When no lifeguard intervened, the lawsuit continues, he took matters into his own hands.

Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said at the time that he died from asphyxiation after drowning, according to previous reporting by The Sun News.

The lawsuit alleges that ocean conditions that day were “extremely hazardous” due to dangerous rip currents, but the lifeguards failed to post adequate warnings or properly maintain surveillance of the water. It states that the failure is believed to be a product of the “dual role” the lifeguards were serving, both in monitoring conditions and renting out beach chairs, umbrellas and other equipment.

Lack’s Beach Service Inc., John’s Beach Service of Myrtle Beach Inc., Central Beach Service Inc. and Central Beach Services of Myrtle Beach LLC are listed as the defendants in the action.

Nick Jackson of Myrtle Beach Surf Rescue, formerly John’s Beach Service, said that the area indicated in the complaint is not within their area of supervision. Lack’s Beach Service did not immediately respond for comment.

The complaint was initiated by Thierry Pouassi Ngaleu, the brother of Deumeni Ngaleu, who is serving as a personal representative over his sibling’s estate. It was filed in Common Pleas court, and a jury trial is being requested. Pouassi Ngaleu is being represented by Pracht Injury Lawyers, LLP.

Myrtle Beach’s dual role lifeguarding model ended in 2023 following the drowning. Until that point, it was the only American city operating a “dual role” system that allowed companies to profit from rental sales in exchange for providing trained lifeguards through franchise agreements.

The change was also sparked in part by the 2018 drowning of 41-year-old Zerihun Wolde, which resulted in Lack’s Beach Service being ordered to award more than $20 million to his family in 2022. The amount included $7 million in punitive costs to end their dual role practices. The judge in this case ruled that dual role lifeguarding posed a “significant threat” to public safety.