Children sue fitness club after mom dies in sauna
The four children of a 71-year-old Green Valley woman are suing the Tucson fitness club where she died in a sauna.
According to the lawsuit, filed June 10 in Pima County Superior Court, Maria "Lupita" Gabaldon was a member of the Silver Sneakers Fitness Program at Fit Center, 5555 E. Fifth St.
Fit Center describes itself as a "specialty fitness facility" with programs for "adults over the age of 50, those with medical needs and those who desire a full-service health club with a high level of supervision," according to the lawsuit.
Gabaldon, who earlier had belonged to a Fit Center in Green Valley, had high blood pressure, said the children's attorney, Sarah J. Showard, but her doctor had cleared her to work out.
On Oct. 26, Gabaldon checked into the Tucson facility around 2:30 p.m. for a swim and sauna, the lawsuit says.
Around 6 p.m., she was found unconscious in the sauna by another member and was pronounced dead by authorities.
"They cooked her," Showard said.
"It's outrageous that something like this could happen in a community that has quite a few senior citizens and promises to take extra special care of them," Showard said.
Gabaldon's cause of death was listed by the county medical examiner as cardiovascular disease.
Showard said the children believe the sauna's heat contributed to her death.
At the time, the sauna's thermometer wasn't working and its temperature was monitored by a meat thermometer advertised as being "great for roasting meat in the kitchen," according to the lawsuit.
It's not known how hot the sauna was because by the time police arrived it had been turned off, according to court records and Showard.
Michele Whitlatch, Fit Center's owner, was unavailable for comment Friday.
Robert Grasso, the Tempe attorney for Specialty Fitness, Whitlatch's corporation, said he hadn't seen the amended complaint listing the company and couldn't comment.
A.J. FLICK
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