A boy and girl, both seven, were found unconscious in a high-rise pool in Bayan Baru. One is in critical condition in ICU
GEORGE TOWN: Two seven-year-old children narrowly escaped drowning at a condominium swimming pool in Bayan Baru yesterday morning.
Southwest district police chief ACP Anuwal Ab Wahab said the incident occurred around 8.30am at the pool on the 42nd floor of the premises.
One victim is in critical condition and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Penang Hospital.
The other child has regained consciousness and is being treated in the children’s ward.
Police received a report at 9am that a boy and a girl were found unconscious by the swimming pool.
“Initial investigations found that the complainant, who is the mother of the girl, received a call from her sister informing her that her daughter and nephew had been found unconscious,” Anuwal said in a statement.
The mother then took both children to a private hospital for initial treatment before they were referred to Penang Hospital.
Police inspections revealed no personnel were on duty at the pool at the time of the incident.
CCTV footage showed the children’s aunt took them to the swimming pool at 8.30 am.
The footage showed the children walking from the children’s pool to the adult pool, where they were later found unconscious by members of the public.
It is understood the family was in Penang on a holiday, staying at a homestay unit in the condominium since January 9.
They were due to return home today.
Police said further investigations are ongoing to determine if there was any element of negligence or misconduct.
