A tragic accident in Rhodes, Greece, has claimed the life of a 2.5-year-old girl who was found unconscious in a hotel pool two weeks ago (Oct. 14). After spending ten days in a pediatric ICU at a Heraklion, Crete, hospital, the toddler was airlifted to a specialized hospital in the United Kingdom, where she passed away last Sunday.

The child had reportedly been in the pool for around 10 minutes without anyone noticing. A hotel guest eventually spotted her and pulled her from the water, but she was already unresponsive. First responders, hospital staff and a private doctor attempted to resuscitate her immediately.

From the beginning, doctors had warned the family that her brain injury was severe and irreversible. Despite intensive treatment and the transfer to the UK, her condition did not improve.

Legal Proceedings

Following the incident, authorities arrested two men in connection with the case: the child’s 44-year-old British uncle, allegedly responsible for supervising her, and a 54-year-old Greek manager of a tour company operating at the hotel. Both faced charges of serious bodily harm by negligence.

Additionally, the hotel owner and the facility manager are being investigated for endangering the child, though they were not immediately detained. With the girl’s death, prosecutors are expected to upgrade the charges, and all four individuals may be required to provide supplementary statements.

The Accident

Security footage reportedly shows that at 11:50 a.m., the toddler approached the pool ladder alone and entered the water unaccompanied. She remained submerged until a guest noticed her roughly 10 minutes later.

According to statements, the child was not with her uncle or the tour company manager at the time. The British uncle has denied responsibility, noting that no one had officially assigned him to supervise the girl. The 54-year-old manager also said he was not present at the pool during the incident and had no role in hotel safety procedures.

Family and Investigation

The girl’s family had been on vacation with 16 relatives, including siblings and cousins. Accounts indicate that multiple adults believed the child was elsewhere, contributing to a tragic lack of supervision at the pool.

Authorities are reviewing video evidence and statements to determine responsibility. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the importance of pool safety and supervision, especially for young children in hotel settings.