In an indoor swimming pool in Ningbo, China, a 36‑year‑old man surnamed Hu lost his life after a fatal accident while trying to show his seven‑year‑old daughter how to dive.
On October 18, Hu jumped headfirst into the shallow end of the pool without realizing it was only 1.1 meters deep. His dive struck the bottom of the pool, breaking his cervical spine. Security camera footage captured his body rising to the surface after the impact; he was clearly unable to reposition himself to keep his head out of the water.
Hu’s daughter, who saw the whole event unfold from inside the pool, rushed to try to lift him, but she lacked the strength to succeed. At the time, three lifeguards were on duty. One approached briefly when he noticed Hu floating, but seeing no reaction, he mistakenly assumed the pair were playing together and took no further action.
As a result, more than 15 minutes passed before anyone pulled Hu from the water and sent him to hospital. He spent five days in intensive care before succumbing to his injuries.
Chinese regulations require lifeguards to patrol pools at least once every 15 minutes and to react instantly to any abnormal situation. Because of what the family sees as a dangerously delayed response, they have announced plans to take legal action against the gymnasium operating the pool.
In its defense, the gym said clear safety notices were displayed around the premises warning swimmers against diving in shallow areas.
