Report released in the case of a child who nearly drowned in a hotel pool: A chain of serious negligence

E.N.K. in Menderes district of Izmir. (6) He went into the adult pool at a hotel where he went on holiday with his family and was in danger of drowning. In the expert report prepared after the investigation initiated upon the family's complaint, it was underlined that the necessary checks were not carried out in the hotel's pool and extensions, the risks were not detected and precautions were not taken.

The incident took place on August 22 at a hotel in Özdere District. E.N.K., who was on holiday at the hotel with his family, allegedly entered the adult pool and was in danger of drowning. E.N.K. was noticed after a while. He was taken out of the pool and taken to the hospital. While E.N.K.'s treatment continued in intensive care, the family filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office about the incident. It was learned that the child's health condition remained serious. An investigation was launched into the incident by the Menderes Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. An expert report was included in the file within the scope of the investigation. The report emphasized that the necessary precautions were not taken to prevent children from entering the adult pool. It was also emphasized that the necessary control was not provided by E.N.K.'s mother. It was also reported that there was no detection of a warning sign in the pool where the incident occurred.

NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS WERE NOT TAKEN

The report underlined that B.G. was working as a lifeguard at the hotel and that he did not carry out the necessary monitoring and control against children entering the adult pool. It was underlined that B.G. was the main factor in terms of technique. A.İ., who was determined to be the employer. It was underlined that the necessary checks were not carried out in the hotel's pools and extensions, risks were not detected and precautions were not taken. In addition, the report also stated that the necessary work organization was not made to prevent children from entering the adult pool and that the necessary monitoring and control was not provided for the lifeguards on duty in the pools. It was stated that A.İ. was also a technical factor in the incident. E.N.K.'s mother was also included in the report as a technical factor.

'THE LIFEGUARD DOES NOT HAVE A CERTIFICATE'

Emrullah Aksakal, the lawyer of E.N.K.'s family, described the incident as a 'disaster' and said, "We determined that the person shown as a lifeguard at the pool did not have a lifeguard certificate. An uncertified person was seated in the lifeguard tower. The Pool Safety and Tourism Facilities Regulation in force is very clear. It is mandatory for at least 2 bronze certified lifeguards to be on duty at the same time in a pool of this size and depth. This condition was not met at the hotel on the day of the incident. "Our child remained at the bottom of the pool for 7 minutes. During this time, there is no camera system to see the bottom of the pool, no alarm system, no underwater lighting. There is no emergency action plan, first aid organization or rescue equipment that should be activated when the incident occurs." Aksakal also emphasized that the hotel owners and managers did not say "get well soon" to the family.