Family sue as man sucked to death in hotel hot tub

A family are suing a hotel and spa manufacturer after a US man was sucked to death in the resort’s hot tub in December last year.

The extreme suction kept John Van Hoy Jr underwater after he dunked his head under.

Fiancée, Nicole Cleaveland claims staff at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort in the Bahamas ignored her pleas for help.

"Although he was 33 years old, in excellent shape, and could bench press over 300 pounds (136kg), the suction force was so excessive, John Van Hoy Jr. could not free himself," the lawsuit read.

Cleaveland jumped fully clothed into the spa when she realised he was trapped but was unable to rescue him.

She then called for help from a hotel employee, who allegedly ignored her and walked away.

Several guests of the hotel finally managed to pull Van Hoy free.

"Complicating matters, no Sandals employees were either trained or willing to provide CPR for the 45 minutes or more that transpired before an ambulance arrived," the lawsuit stated.

"In the final moments of his life, John Van Hoy Jr. experienced unimaginable conscious terror and utter foreboding doom — all of which was exacerbated by... knowing that his (fiancée's) efforts to save him had failed."

Hoy was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

His family is now seeking damages for negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and product liability.