A tragic incident unfolded during a swimming lesson at a private nursery when a four-year-old girl drowned in a pool not appropriate for children and without a lifeguard on duty. The heartbreaking event occurred at a nursery in the Suleymaniye neighborhood of Inegol in Bursa Province, Turkey, on August 12. Staff were seen struggling to rescue little Berra Dizi after she was found unresponsive in the water, with a swimming instructor eventually pulling her out.
Despite efforts by a nurse at the scene providing initial aid, Berra was swiftly taken to a state hospital and later transferred to Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, where she passed away in intensive care a week later.
An investigation revealed that the pool, typically used for the nursery’s summer activities, was deeper than safety regulations allow for children’s pools, measuring 74 centimeters (29 inches) instead of the recommended 50 centimeters (19 inches).
Authorities discovered that there was no certified lifeguard on duty, and the swimming teacher was not supervising the children in the pool when the tragic incident occurred. A detailed report prepared by prosecutors highlighted that Berra’s mother had previously mentioned her daughter’s history of febrile seizures as an infant, although she had been seizure-free for two years and had discontinued medication as advised by the doctor.
The nursery contended that Berra had an epileptic seizure in the pool, suggesting her medical condition was the cause of the drowning rather than negligence. However, Berra’s parents refuted this assertion, asserting that she had outgrown her childhood seizures and was in good health.
The parents insisted that hospital records confirmed drowning as the cause of death and disputed the seizure theory as an attempt to evade accountability. The investigation attributed primary fault to the nursery operator E.B.O. and secondary fault to the swimming teacher N.T.
Berra’s parents were also deemed primarily responsible for failing to disclose her complete medical history, a verdict they deemed unjust. Ismail Dizi, Berra’s father, criticized the expert panel, noting that two members, who were mechanical engineers, had provided medical opinions rather than evaluating safety lapses.
He highlighted deficiencies in the nursery’s permits and safety measures, asserting that the facility should not have been allowed to operate a pool. Moum Beyza Turan, another parent, voiced concerns over safety protocols not being followed, stating that her daughter might still be alive if proper precautions had been taken.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the nursery continues to operate, prompting parents to demand justice for their children and a commitment to ensuring safety measures are strictly adhered to in the future.