Beaufort Co. Family Gets Settlement Over Misrouted 911 Call

Settlement news is making waves in Beaufort County, following the outcome of a lawsuit that a local family filed against the county’s emergency services. The suit dared to ask the question: What happens when 911 sends help to the wrong address? Unfortunately, for one family, it tragically led to a delayed response to a heart attack that ultimately cost a man his life.

What Happened?

Imagine being in the throes of a heart attack, managing to dial 911 and provide your address, but help doesn’t come. That was the terrifying reality faced by Williams Holmes, a resident of Bluffton in Beaufort County. Now, Holmes’ family has received a $50,000 payout from the Insurance Reserve Fund to settle their lawsuit against Beaufort County’s Sheriff’s Office.

Mix-up Leads to Tragedy

The family’s lawsuit claimed that despite Holmes being able to provide his home address before losing the ability to speak on the 911 call, the county’s Emergency Management Service somehow entered it incorrectly. The error set in motion a series of tragic events: the dispatcher’s report had the address off by one digit, sending responders to the wrong location or not to any location at all.

Adding insult to injury, despite the 911 call lasting a full 20 minutes, it was labeled a “911 Hang-Up”. The lawsuit alleges that no attempt was made to verify Holmes’ address or to contact security personnel in his gated community, who could have potentially offered more immediate assistance.

Consequences and Allegations

Apart from the immediate grief and trauma suffered by Holmes’ family, the situation led to several painful and heavy consequences. Shock and injury befell Holmes as he lay helpless, gradually succumbing to the heart attack – alone, and with the horrifying knowledge that emergency assistance wasn’t coming.

The lawsuit also stated that Holmes’ body was left to decompose in his home for 11 whole days following the heart attack. This, in turn, led to the home being uninhabitable for weeks necessitating expensive renovations.

Lawsuit Settlement

While Sheriff P.J. Tanner declined to comment given that the lawsuit has been settled, the family’s settlement couldn’t erase the heartbreak of their loss. Yet, it’s a stark reminder about the importance of precision and attentiveness in emergency response systems. Ultimately, a mere numerical error led to tragic consequences, significantly impacting a family and revealing a severe misstep in the system designed to protect and safeguard.