The Circumstances of Yoni’s Tragic Death by Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club - Part 2
The Video of Yoni’s Last Moments:
One of the most painful aspects of this tragedy is that it all was captured on the security video of the Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club (COAC operated at 5800 Cathedral Oaks Road, Goleta, CA 93117). That video, however, also points out the horrific nature of the conduct of those at the pool and their lack of training. Nothing can prepare you for the heartbreaking scene of this little boy, aggressively dunked and then left so obviously struggling and drowning, right in front of the lifeguards and counselors who were supposed to guarantee his safety.
How Yoni was Killed
View Security Video (The following video contains graphic and disturbing content. Viewer discretion is advised.
Watch the Security Video
To watch the security video
Below are some of the more critical events shown on the video, together with the time at which they occur:
14:35:44 -- Tracking circles appear for COAC Counselor Sam Shipley (in grey, with the letter "C" above it) and Yoni Gottesman (in red) at the lower right of the screen
14:35:49 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water
14:36:04 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a second time
14:36:18 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a third time
14:36:29 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a fourth time
14:36:44 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a fifth time
14:36:56 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a sixth time
14:37:08 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a seventh time
14:37:20 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water an eighth time
14:37:33 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a ninth time, with another child
14:37:49 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a tenth time, with another child (2nd dunk with the other child)
14:38:05 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water an eleventh time, with another child (3rd dunk with the other child)
14:38:34 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks Yoni under water a twelfth time, with another child (4th dunk with the other child)
14:38:34 -- The COAC lifeguard on the far side of the pool, David Merin, leaves his station
14:38:50 -- COAC Counselor Shipley is surrounded by numerous children including Yoni; he swims away toward the lane line and they swim after him
14:39:14 -- COAC Counselor Shipley turns around as he gets closer to the deep end, and the children chase him back towards the steps
14:39:33 -- Yoni desperately attempts to reach COAC Counselor Shipley, but Shipley continues to dodge the children. After Shipley deserts him, Yoni is unable to make it to the wall; he stops moving approximately 5 feet from the wall and begins to float face down
14:39:42 -- COAC Lifeguard Merin returns to his station
14:39:44 -- The COAC lifeguard on the near side of the pool, Michael Bowen, leaves his station for approximately 21 seconds to clean off a kickboard
14:40:40 -- COAC Lifeguard Bowen is playing with/adjusting the umbrella at his station, and not watching the swimmers
14:41:22 -- COAC Lifeguard Bowen turns away from the pool for approximately 16 seconds to adjust the parka/jacket on his chair
14:46:01 -- COAC Counselor Shipley plays with children right next to Yoni
14:46:20 -- COAC Lifeguard Merin leaves his station to get a soda; he does not return until after Yoni is pulled from the pool
14:46:33 -- COAC Counselor Shipley dunks a child very near Yoni, but takes no notice of the motionless figure floating in the pool
14:47:26 -- Children close to Yoni go underwater to look at him, then yell to COAC lifeguard Bowen and counselors
14:47:50 -- A female COAC counselor on the pool deck points out Yoni to lifeguard Bowen, who still had not taken any notice of him
14:47:58 -- COAC Lifeguard Bowen jumps in the water
14:48:10 -- COAC Lifeguard Bowen pulls Yoni from the water and places him on the pool deck, after Yoni had been floating right in front of him for more than 8 minutes.
Nationally known water safety experts who have seen the video have called what happened to Yoni Gottesman “outrageous,” “deplorable” and “horrific.”
The People Involved in Yoni's Death
The People Involved in Yoni's Death