Paros: Pool where 4-year-old drowned had been operating without a license since 2023

The pool at the business in Paros where a 4-year-old boy lost his life on Saturday, August 8, has been sealed off, according to ERT.

The decision to seal the swimming pool was taken by the Municipal Committee, following evidence indicating that the pool had allegedly been operating without the required license since 2023.

Following the decision, the deputy mayor responsible for the matter proceeded to seal the business’s pool.

The development comes just days after the tragedy that shocked Paros, as the authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the young boy’s death.

The child went to the pool without his parents realizing it. Two young women noticed that the 4-year-old was in the water unconscious and raised the alarm. A beach bar employee jumped into the water to pull the child out, but unfortunately, he was retrieved without a pulse.

As part of the investigation, the 4-year-old’s parents and the business owner were arrested on charges of negligent homicide. The child’s parents were released, as was the owner, who appeared before the Prosecutor in Syros on Sunday (August 9).

It is noted that children under the age of 13 are not permitted to access the pool without supervision.

What authorities are investigating

Of particular significance is the fact that the owner himself was registered with the authorities as the pool’s lifeguard, with investigators examining the exact circumstances under which swimmers were being supervised.

Video footage in the possession of the authorities is considered particularly important to the investigation, as it captures the movements of both the child and the people who were present at the site.