Eleven-year-old Asmahan Mahmud Abu Hamad from the village of Drijat, who was planning to enter sixth grade, was the victim of a fatal drowning on Wednesday morning, 6 Menachem Av, at about 10:00AM. The fatal drowning occurred in the Leonardo Hotel in the Deal Sea. MDA paramedics and EMTs responded and attempted to resuscitate her, albeit their efforts failed. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

MDA paramedic Dorel Arouzan explains, “When I arrived I saw the girl on the side of the poll, in cardiac arrest. I was told she was taken from the water, apparently after being under water for several minutes. We began CPR and advanced life support, including pharmaceutical intervention. Unfortunately, we had to pronounce her dead on the scene”.

Police have launched an investigation. Six hotel employees were immediately questioned. Police ordered the pool closed temporarily.

The preliminary investigation reveals the victim was the daughter of a hotel employee, arriving with her dad in the morning since she is on vacation. Investigators are trying to determine if there were lifeguards on duty when the fatal drowning occurred and why no one paid attention to a child floating in the pool. Police are also checking the hotel’s licenses to operate a pool.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)