An Elementary Student Dies After Getting Arm Stuck in Intake Valve of Seawater Pool with 37cm Depth

Transported to Hospital in Cardiac Arrest but Passed Away

A tragic accident occurred in Gyeongbuk Ulleung-gun where an elementary school student playing at a water playground got his arm caught in a water intake pipe and drowned in shallow water only 37cm deep.

According to the police and Ulleung-gun authorities on the 2nd, the drowning incident happened at 11:04 a.m. on the 1st at the seawater pool in Hyeonpo-ri, Buk-myeon, Ulleung-gun, involving a 6th-grade elementary school student, A (12). When the 119 rescue team arrived at the scene after receiving the report, A was submerged with his left arm caught in the intake pipe. He was transported to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately passed away.

Ulleungdo Accident Site
Photo by Pohang Nambu Fire Station

The location where A was found is known to be the space under the slide inside the pool where the water intake equipment is installed. This equipment pumps water up to a large bucket attached above the seawater pool slide, and when the bucket becomes heavy, it releases a water bomb downwards.

There was a small door near the intake pipe, concealed by a screen, which allowed access for maintenance personnel. It is reported that the door was not locked at the time of the accident.

The diameter of the intake pipe that sucked in A’s arm was about 13 to 15 cm, and the depth of the seawater pool where the accident occurred was shallow at 37 cm. However, the water pressure drawing water into the intake pipe was strong, and the police believe A was unable to free his arm in time, leading to the accident.

The 119 rescue workers who arrived at the scene were also initially unable to remove A’s arm. They had to pump out the water from the pool using a fire pump before performing CPR and pulling A out.

The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident and are also examining whether Ulleung-gun, which manages the seawater pool, properly maintained the intake pipe door.

Meanwhile, there are growing concerns about safety negligence as deaths of infants and young children continue to occur in water playgrounds with water depths of only several tens of centimeters.

On the 23rd of last month, a 2-year-old child died in a swimming pool with a depth of 67 cm installed at a kids’ pool cafe in Seo-gu, Incheon. On the 6th, a 20-month-old child drowned in an 80 cm deep pool at a pool villa in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do. Additionally, on the 1st, a 3-year-old child drowned in a pension swimming pool in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do.

A disaster expert urged that, given the rapid increase in visitors to water playground facilities due to heatwaves and other weather conditions, special attention must be paid to safety management.