A three-year-old British girl tragically passed away after falling into a hotel swimming pool in Greece while reportedly left unattended during a family holiday. The incident occurred in Lardos, a coastal village on the island of Rhodes, on October 14. The child, identified as Matilda, succumbed to her injuries in an English hospital after spending 12 days receiving critical care in medical facilities in Rhodes, Crete, and eventually being airlifted back to the UK.

The toddler was discovered unconscious at the bottom of the pool at the hotel complex after her 44-year-old uncle, who was responsible for supervising her, allegedly left her alone for approximately 10 minutes. A British doctor present at the scene immediately intervened, entering the water to rescue the child and administering CPR until paramedics arrived. Matilda was initially treated at the General Hospital of Rhodes, where she was intubated before being transferred to Crete and subsequently repatriated to Britain, but unfortunately, she did not survive.

Following the tragic incident, the child’s uncle and a 54-year-old travel agency manager accountable for the hotel’s guests were arrested by authorities. They, along with the 57-year-old hotel owner and the hotel’s director, are now facing legal charges related to the child’s death. An investigation on-site revealed inadequate safety measures at the hotel, including the absence of a lifeguard, rescue equipment at the pool, and a designated supervisor.

The uncle’s lawyer, Antonis Zervos, has contested that his client was not in proximity to the child when the incident occurred. Meanwhile, the hotel manager’s legal representation has argued that the pool’s size does not necessitate a lifeguard by law. Law enforcement has examined CCTV footage to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, stating that their inquiry is ongoing. A woman relaxing on a sunbed spotted the child and pulled her out of the water before raising the alarm.

Medical professionals had informed the family early on during hospitalization that the brain injury Matilda sustained was irreversible. The hospital’s director, Michalis Sokorelos, described her condition as “brain dead,” noting the prolonged duration she was submerged in water. He indicated that she showed no signs of response.

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