Texting shopper who fell in mall fountain sues security guards for laughing

A woman who accidentally fell into a shopping mall fountain while texting on her mobile phone has spoken about the incident for the first time - and says she is suing. CCTV footage of Cathy Marrero failing to notice that she was walking straight into a pool of water became a YouTube hit after being watched by 1.7 million people.



But the 49-year-old, revealing her identity for the first time, says she doesn't find the video very funny and plans to take the mall in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to court after accusing staff of laughing instead of helping her out of the water. Speaking of the moment she unwittingly took the plunge, she said: ‘I saw the water coming at me, I could see the pennies and nickels at the bottom of the fountain and then I was in it.'

Security surveillance showed Ms Marrero walking in a straight line while texting on her phone, oblivious to what was around her - or directly in front of her. The video was posted with commentary by what is believed to be laughing mall employees who watched the video over and over.


YouTube link.

Mrs Marrero said she was left mortified by the incident. ‘My issue is I don't think security was professional because they didn't send anyone to check on me until 20 minutes later and I had already left,’ she said.