A six-year-old boy drowned in a Calella hotel pool on Sunday. Emergency teams and police responded, but the child could not be saved. This marks the seventh pool-related death in Catalonia this summer.
A six-year-old boy died on Sunday after drowning in the swimming pool of a hotel in Calella (Maresme), according to Protección Civil. The incident, which occurred in the late afternoon, has brought the number of fatal pool accidents in Catalonia this summer to seven, highlighting a sharp increase compared to previous years.
The emergency call was received at 17:55, prompting a rapid response from the Sistema de Emergencias Médicas (SEM), which dispatched four ambulances and a team of psychologists to the scene. Four patrol units from the Mossos d’Esquadra and local police officers also attended the incident. Despite the swift intervention, the child could not be revived.
Since June 15, more than twenty people—most of them children—have suffered injuries in pool-related drowning incidents across Catalonia. The current summer season has already surpassed last year’s total of four fatal pool drownings, even though only three weeks have passed since the start of the official bathing campaign.
Authorities are urging heightened vigilance around pools, beaches, and inland waters. Protección Civil emphasizes the need for constant supervision of children, strict adherence to safety rules and signage, and immediate notification of lifeguards or emergency services via 112 if anyone appears to be in distress in the water. They also advise against running or jumping in restricted areas and recommend removing toys from the pool when not in use to prevent accidents.
Pool safety remains a significant concern in Spain, particularly during the peak summer months when families and tourists flock to hotels and recreational facilities. According to public health data, drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children in the country. The combination of increased travel, high temperatures, and crowded swimming areas often leads to a spike in incidents during the holiday season. In response, regional authorities have intensified public awareness campaigns and reinforced emergency protocols at popular destinations. The ongoing rise in pool-related accidents this year underlines the importance of preventive measures and rapid intervention to reduce risks, especially for young children.
