A five-year old girl drowned in a swimming pool at the Big Five Lodge during a birthday celebration and Police say they may charge the Lodge with negligence.
Efforts to resuscitate the child were futile.
The Acting Station Commander of Mogoditshane Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Simon Setale, said his station is investigating an incident in which a five-year-old girl died after drowning in the Lodge’s swimming pool.
He said the kid was rushed to the Botswana Defense Force clinic where she was certified dead upon arrival.
Setale said if the investigations can prove that there was negligence either between the lodge and the parents of the deceased, then they will press charges.
He said the investigations will reveal whether the lodge has safeguards at the pool.
Setale explained that it took about four hours for the Lodge to report the matter to the police station.
Meanwhile, the Manager of the Big Five Lodge, who refused to disclose his name, confirmed the incident.
Though he was reluctant to respond to questions, he explained that the kid fell into the swimming pool while the parents were attending a party.
He said the staff tried to resuscitate the kid but it failed and she was rushed to hospital.
The manager said this was the second incident of drowning.
“The lodge cannot take the blame because the swimming pool has a sign that states clearly that children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by parents.”
