Girl Gets Trapped Underwater After Being Sucked Into Swimming Pool Pump, Dies

A 12-year-old girl from Russia died Thursday, days after being sucked into a swimming pool pump and was trapped underwater for 15 minutes.

The girl, identified as Alisa Adamova, was on a vacation with her family in Turkey on Aug.18 when the incident took place. Several people including her father unsuccessfully tried to pull her out. Guests said the staff did not immediately turn off the pump as “they couldn't find the switch.” The girl was pulled out after 15 minutes and the ambulance was called. Paramedics arrived at the scene and managed to stabilize her, however, she died 11 days after the incident.

Recalling the incident, a Polish tourist named Tomasz Grushalski said, “We frantically called the hotel staff to switch off the pump, but none of the staff came to help. Alisa's right arm was stuck in the pipe, trapping her underwater. It took ten minutes to switch the pump off and after that it was still impossible to get her out at first.”

“This trip will forever remain in our memory…due to a tragic event caused by the incompetence of the hotel management. My eight-year-old daughter, who witnessed the event, still cannot cope with it,” he added.

The victim’s mother, Natalya Adamova, said, “Her dad dived and saw our child stuck underwater. He tried to pull her out but her hand was very strongly sucked into the pump pipe. He called for help. Other guests rushed to assist. But even after hotel workers turned off the pump, they could not free her hand. Then he and seven other guests broke the pipe and pulled Alisa out along with a piece of pipe on her arm.”

Russia is now demanding punishment for the guilty.

“We hope that Turkish justice will establish the circle of persons guilty of this tragedy, and that they will bear punishment they deserve,” said a Russian spokesman. The investigation was ongoing.