Hotel managers in Santorini are facing charges of manslaughter after the tragic drowning of a 5-year-old Indian boy in a hotel pool in Kamari. The incident occurred on Thursday morning (10/10), around 11:00.
Police arrested the 38-year-old hotel manager and the 37-year-old pool manager, who is a certified lifeguard. At the time of the incident, however, he was in a second pool in the same hotel complex.
The two men are charged with manslaughter, while the boy’s 33-year-old father was also arrested for endangering a minor. All three will be brought before the Naxos prosecutor.
How the tragedy happened
The child was with his parents in the hotel pool, as part of a group trip of tourists from India.
According to information, the father had entered the water first, but when he came out he did not see the child. He started looking for him and a few minutes later, the boy was found unconscious in the pool.
The hotel staff rushed to retrieve him and provide him with first aid using a defibrillator, but to no avail. The child was taken to Santorini Hospital, where doctors tried in vain to keep him alive.
The legislation on swimming pools and the investigation into omissions
According to information, the depth of the pool was 1.40 meters, while the legislation provides that the mandatory presence of a lifeguard is required only when the depth exceeds 1.5 meters.
However, even in shallow pools, there must be personnel with first aid certification, while a sign stated that the use of the pool is only allowed to people over 13 years old.
The authorities are conducting a thorough preliminary investigation to determine possible responsibilities or omissions in the operation of the hotel and the safety measures that were observed in the pool area.
“The child escaped the attention of his parents”
The mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, told ΕΡΤnews:
“The parents were in the pool, but unfortunately the child escaped their attention and the fatality occurred. There was a defibrillator in the hotel, first aid was given, but they were unable to keep him alive.”
For his part, the president of the Santorini Hoteliers Association, Antonis Pagonis, expressed his sadness, emphasizing that the hotel had a lifeguard and safety equipment:
“It was an unspeakable tragedy for all of us. All possible efforts were made to revive the child, but to no avail.”
Shock in Santorini
The exact circumstances of the drowning are being investigated by the competent authorities, while the local community of Santorini remains shocked by the tragedy that claimed the life of a child of just five years old.
