Modena, 16 June 2024 – It is hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Maggiore hospital in Parma and would appear to be in a coma, the 4 year old boy who fell into the swimming pool on Friday evening in Mirandola, during a class dinner organized by some parents in a private home.
The owner of the house himself came to his aid and, after noticing the shape of the little boy upside down in the water – in a swimming pool with water 70 centimeters high – performed the first resuscitation manoeuvres. The incident occurred around 8pm on Friday via Personalto Mirandolain a house where some parents, also to get to know each other a little more, had organized a dinner with their children, enrolled in the first year of nursery school.
A few moments before the child was standing chasing on the lawn with a friend, the homeowner’s daughter. The next momentsuddenly escaped the parental controlwas poured into the pool protected by a gate closed with a padlock, which the little one apparently managed to do climb over climbing. The police are investigating the tragedy and it appears to have been a tragic accident.
Families are in shock.
Heartbroken and worriedthe homeowner rewinds the tape of the dramatic accident.
What happened?
“We had organized the end of year class party with some families to be together and get to know each other a little more. The children attend the nursery school in Mirandola and on Friday evening half of the section took part in the party, which started around 6pm. The children played in the garden and in the meantime we distributed dinner. My daughter and the little boy were chasing each other on the lawn. We heard crying and I went to see.”
Did you immediately notice the little one in the water?
“Soon after. My daughter told me that she couldn’t find it anymore and I glanced towards the pool. I saw that the sheet had moved: I approached the wooden house, which is located next door, thinking he was hiding behind it but then I noticed the shape: he was upside down in the water. I screamed for help and ran to him. I brought it up: I had taken the first aid course years ago in the company, in the biomedical sector: I was the first aid officer. The notions that the girl gave us when we took the course came clear to me: she also taught us a part related precisely to children”.
So he started practicing the maneuvers?
“I immediately started blowing air, making him throw water out. In front of him was his dad and the three of us took turns for the cardiac massage while, on a video call, the 118 operator explained to us how to do it. Shortly afterwards the 118 paramedics arrived with the medical vehicle. Then the helicopter landed and the child was transported to hospital.
The heart had started beating again. In fact, we continued the massage for five or ten minutes until the paramedics arrived. Then the police arrived.”
Is the pool deep?
“The outer edge is about three feet, the water is shallower. I don’t know where the child could have climbed, for safety reasons the gate was closed.”
A tragedy on an evening that was supposed to be a celebration…
“I just hope he recovers, that he spent little time in the water and that he can get better soon. Everything was done for a moment of joy, but instead it turned into something else; no one expected it. We are close to the family and we hope everything goes well.”
