A 39-year-old mother and her 11-year-old son were found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool at a holiday inn in Maragogi, in Brazil. The official report released this Friday by local media detailed the shocking causes of his death.
The woman’s boyfriend told authorities that, since the shower in his room was not working, he went to look for the woman and the child in the common pool there and discovered the terrifying scene.
The two bodies were brought to the surface by other guests, who quickly performed resuscitation maneuvers on them. These did not work, so the woman and the boy were transferred by the Fire Department to the local Emergency Care Unit (UPA). where his death was confirmed.
Before the examination, the hypothesis of drowning was considered, but the Legal Medical Institute (IML) had previously indicated that the death was compatible with accidental exposure to electrical currentruling out drowning.
The cause of death, according to the official report
The death of two tourists from San Pablo identified as Luciana Klein Helfstein y Arthur Klein Helfstein Alves was caused by an electric shock originated from an irregular lighting installation, the expert concluded
The Maceió Criminalistics Institute reported that the type decorative system “garland of lights” installed around the pool area was connected to a power point that did not comply with the safety standard ABNT NBR 5410 (2004).
A plug came into contact with a nearby metal structurewhich ended up “energizing” that part of the environment. Measurements carried out by the experts detected 220 volts in the metal, an especially dangerous scenario due to the presence of water and conductive surfaces.
«We verified that the male connector, located on the right side of the assembly, was in direct contact with the metal structure of the railing, accidentally energizing the entire structure. Technical measurements carried out on site confirmed an electrical potential of approximately 220 V (two hundred and twenty volts) on the metal surface,» specified the electrical engineering expert Diozênio Monteiro.
According to the expert, the pool area, being commonly humid, is classified as highly critical and is capable of causing fatal electric shocks to anyone who interacts with water or a metal structure.
The report also indicates that the tourists «were unaware of the negligence, incompetence or recklessness of those responsible for the place,» who had a swimming pool at their disposal without control measures.
The expert documentation was sent to the Maragogi Delegation and the case remains under police investigation.
According to a friend of the victims – who confirmed the news – the bodies of Luciana and Arthur arrived at the São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, last Tuesday, and from there they went to the Parque dos Girassóis Cemetery, where they were watched and buried.
