The Brazos Ski Ranch Cable Park, affectionately referred to as “BSR” by the people of Waco, has voluntarily closed down its surf resort following the death of surfer, Fabrizio Stabile. BSR’s surf resort is temporarily closed while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tests BSR’s waters for Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as the “brain-eating ameba.”
Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled living organism that can cause a deadly infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis when contaminated water enters a person’s body through the nose. According to the CDC, the ameba is commonly found in warm freshwater, including lakes, rivers, and hot springs, and swallowing contaminated water does not lead to infections. Symptoms start to show one to nine days after swimming, and infected people typically die one to 18 days after symptoms start.
According to the CDC, only four out of the one hundred forty-three people infected in the United States between 1962 and 2017 have survived an infection from Naegleria fowleri.
Parks like BSR and public pools have a responsibility to keep their pools and pool areas safe from harmful bacteria and amoeba like Naegleria fowleri, and they can do so by making sure their bodies of water are sufficiently chlorinated.
When someone is injured or dies in an accident, financial recovery may be available. Such recovery is particularly important when permanent, life changing injuries are incurred. It is important to contact someone who understands the intricacies of the injured party’s right to recover.
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