Fatal Accident at Fala Aquapark: Parents Make Moving Decision to Donate Child’s Organs

Following the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy pulled unconscious from a pool in Łódź, prosecutors have reclassified the investigation to involuntary manslaughter as the family donates his organs.

Tragic Death and Organ Donation

The death of the 7-year-old boy was announced on Wednesday by Adam Czerwiński, spokesperson for the Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Łódź. The boy had been taken there immediately after the accident in an extremely critical condition. Brain death was confirmed, and the patient’s parents decided on post-mortem organ donation to save the lives of other people, Czerwiński told PAP. He added that the boy’s parents requested respect for their peace and privacy during this very difficult time.

The operation to harvest and transfer the organs is being overseen by PolTransplant. However, the organization must conduct the procedure in coordination with forensic medics, who, commissioned by the prosecutor’s office, are set to perform an autopsy on the child. Investigators intend to determine the exact cause of the boy’s death.

Prosecution Changes Legal Classification

The fact of the child’s death results in a change to the legal qualification of the act, shifting from exposing a ward to immediate danger of loss of life or severe health damage to involuntary manslaughter, stated prosecutor Emilia Michałowska-Marchewa from the District Prosecutor’s Office in Łódź.

The prosecutor added that an expert in medical rescue has been appointed, and a procedural experiment will be conducted during the investigation. This experiment aims to recreate the situation at the time of the tragedy under conditions maximally similar to those present during the accident, taking place in the same location, at the same time, and involving the individuals who participated in the event.

Currently, the prosecutor’s office has not charged anyone. The proceedings are still ongoing regarding the incident, and a decision regarding potential charges will be made only after gathering the complete evidentiary material, the prosecutor explained.

Investigation and Surveillance Findings

Immediately after the accident, a series of actions were carried out under the supervision of a prosecutor to help clarify the causes of the tragedy. Among other steps, investigators reviewed surveillance footage, seized contracts between the day camp organizer and the aquapark, and interviewed some of the staff on duty at the pool that day. They also conducted sobriety tests, which showed no one was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

The seven-year-old boy was transported to the Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute on July 27 after being pulled unconscious from a pool at the Fala Aquapark. The child was participating in swimming lessons organized as part of day camp activities by an external company for a group of 12 people.

According to the prosecutor’s office, surveillance footage indicates that the boy was in one of the pool lanes at the time of the incident. For reasons yet undetermined, the child cyclically surfaced and submerged under water for about three minutes. Subsequently, the device recorded the seven-year-old remaining fully submerged underwater for approximately six minutes. The child was noticed and first aided by a bystander who was at the pool at the time.