An incident unfolded this Thursday at the pool facilities in Alicante, prompting the National Police to launch a formal investigation. Officials report that a seven-year-old boy drowned after his hand became entangled with one of the drains installed along the pool area. Investigators are gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses to publish a comprehensive report detailing the conditions surrounding the accident. A central question the inquiry aims to resolve concerns the drain grate itself and how it contributed to the child’s entrapment and subsequent drowning. [Citation: National Police of Alicante]
Provincial Brigade agents and the judicial police have conducted interviews with numerous residents and consulted experts from the Provincial Brigade. The scientific police were on site this Thursday to inspect the scene once the pool had been drained of water, collecting material for laboratory analysis and reviewing maintenance records. The objective is to establish causality and determine if any safety standards were breached in the pool’s design or upkeep. [Citation: Provincial Brigade and Scientific Police]
Some neighbors have told investigators that the evacuation grill showed signs of damage and expressed concerns about the maintenance company involved. They contend that the company was not negligent, arguing that reviewing safety hardware falls outside their contractual duties. It is reported that the lifeguard company should have conducted an inspection before the pool opened, and both the building porter and the lifeguards reportedly noticed the grate earlier that morning before the tragedy. The discussions are aimed at clarifying who was responsible for ensuring the drain grate met safety requirements. [Citation: Local witnesses]
The Red Cross dispatched a psychological support team to assist the family of the deceased minor in the afternoon. The boy attended Voramar school in Alicante, and the family is receiving ongoing care as they navigate this devastating loss. The outreach emphasizes the role of emergency responders in providing not only physical safety but emotional support to communities in the wake of such accidents. [Citation: Red Cross]