India
Man Dies After Swimming Pool Accident at Bengaluru Hotel
A Slovakian couple’s holiday in India turned tragic when the husband was electrocuted in a hotel pool. Silvia Hotuatova, 47, and her husband Juraj Horvat, 45, arrived in India on October 20 and checked into the five‑star Conrad Hotel in central Bengaluru on October 30. Hours later, at about 5.15 p.m., Mr. Horvat went swimming. Mrs. Hotuatova heard a loud noise near the pool, rushed to the scene and found him motionless. Hotel staff attempted to rescue him but were also injured. An electric current was detected in the pool, prompting staff to cut the power supply. Matthew Phelan, an American national, tried to rescue the victims and performed CPR. The couple and others were taken to Manipal Hospital in an ambulance.
Manipal Hospital reported that four people were brought to the hospital that evening. Mr. Horvat was in cardiac arrest; CPR and resuscitation were attempted but he could not be revived and was declared dead. A German national, Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a Lufthansa Airlines crew member who had been staying at the hotel during a break, was also brought to the hospital with no signs of life and was declared dead on arrival. The incident has reportedly traumatized other airline crew members and hotel staff.
During the incident, a 26‑year‑old Conrad staff member entered the water to rescue the German national and another individual. He was taken to the hospital in shock and is currently stable and under observation. A U.S. national in his early 40s, who was also in the pool, noticed the strong current, swam to safety, and was admitted with a headache and shock; he is also stable and under observation.
Frequently asked questions
What caused the accident at the Conrad Hotel pool?
An electric current was detected in the pool, leading to the death of the Slovakian husband and a German airline crew member.
How many people were taken to Manipal Hospital after the incident?
Four people were brought to Manipal Hospital that evening.
Were any hotel staff injured during the rescue attempt?
Hotel staff were injured during the rescue attempt and a 26‑year‑old staff member entered the water to rescue others, later taken to the hospital in shock.