PATTAYA, CHONBURI – Two 14-year-old girls drowned late in the afternoon in a residential swimming pool.
What residents initially mistook for diving turned into a tragedy when two unresponsive figures were spotted at the bottom of a community pool in the Nong Prue district. A resident, identified as Leo, discovered the unconscious girls during his evening swim on June 13. He raised the alarm when they did not surface after several minutes.
Fellow residents immediately entered the water and brought the teenagers to the edge of the pool. Even as emergency medical services arrived, locals were performing CPR. Both girls had no pulse and were unresponsive, with blood noted to be draining from their noses. Rescuers continued resuscitation attempts for over 30 minutes, but all efforts were in vain, with both girls pronounced dead at the scene.
Divers motionless at the bottom of the pool
The incident occurred in Soi Boon Samphan. The discovery of the girls highlighted the immediate danger they were in.
Mobile phone filmed the deadly diving competition
Investigators found two mobile phones and a glass of water near the pool’s edge. One of the phones was still recording, capturing the girls engaged in a breath-holding competition. The pool, which reaches a depth of three meters, was deemed to have insufficient safety margins for such dangerous games.
CCTV shows dramatic seconds
Surveillance cameras meticulously documented the unfolding events. Footage showed the girls repeatedly swimming and diving around 5:36 PM. Approximately ten minutes later, a resident noticed the disaster.
Mother had urgently warned about the pool
One of the victims had been strictly forbidden by her mother from entering the community pool due to safety concerns. The mother had dropped her 14-year-old daughter off at a friend’s residence around 4 PM.
When she could not reach her daughter by phone later, she called again. A rescuer answered and delivered the devastating news. The distraught mother collapsed at the scene and required medical attention.
Relatives suffer shock and fainting
Witnesses described scenes of despair and disbelief at the pool, which was surrounded by onlookers. Other relatives also reportedly fainted from shock and grief.
Police officers had to assist grieving family members while forensic investigations began. Emergency services treated several individuals for acute shock.
Police initiate investigation
Police Lieutenant Burapa Jaiharn of the Nong Prue station took charge of the scene. Investigators are focusing on the handy videos as crucial evidence to understand how the competition escalated so rapidly.
The bodies of the two 14-year-olds were released to their families that same evening. Authorities stated that the investigation into the exact circumstances of the accident is ongoing.