An Ohio man has filed a lawsuit against a South Carolina hotel after a cockroach crawled into his ear while he slept, causing him to lose his hearing.
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A night’s sleep causes a man to lose his hearing
Todd VanSickle stayed at the Sands Ocean Club resort on July 30, 2021, and claimed he was awakened by a cockroach that crawled into his ear while he slept. The bug’s untimely visit caused Vansickle to experience severe ear pains, leading to his hearing loss.
Court documents state that Vansickle “suffered painful and permanent injuries; has incurred and will continue to incur medical expenses; has suffered and will continue to suffer pain and discomfort; has suffered and will continue to suffer the loss of wages and earning capacity,”
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The hotel is accused of negligence due to the nature of the incident
The lawsuit was filed against Sands Ocean Club Homeowners Association and Ocean Annie’s Operations, Inc for negligence due to failing to inspect for roaches, conducting pest control services, and maintaining cleanliness in Vansickle’s room.
Vansickle is reportedly seeking an undisclosed amount in damages and the hotel has yet to release a statement regarding the lawsuit.
There are several similar cases of roaches causing hearing loss
According to Cockroach Zone, the bugs “can crawl into human ears in their quest for food. This is most likely to happen at night while you’re sleeping when these nocturnal insects are most active. A cockroach will crawl into your ear to consume earwax and could become stuck. The roach may then die due to dehydration or by being crushed by you.”
The site also advises not to use tweezers or Q-tips to remove the insect from your ear. It is better to remove it by tilting your head to the side or flush it out with warm water. In the case that a roach dies in the ear, it is advised to have a doctor remove it since bacteria from its decaying body can cause severe ear infections.
Roaches reportedly crawl into human ears since they are attracted to the smell of ear wax. However, they can live in the ear for approximately a week but can die days before if it is crushed in a human ear.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT