Two foreign nationals die of suspected electrocution in Bengaluru hotel pool
A German crew member and a Slovakian project manager died after a suspected electrical current entered a five-star hotel swimming pool.
Two foreign nationals died of suspected electrocution in a swimming pool at the Conrad Hotel in Bengaluru on Friday evening, according to The Hindu. The deceased have been identified as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, a 57-year-old German Lufthansa Airlines crew member, and Juraj Horvat, a 45-year-old Slovakian project manager with IBM.
The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. at the hotel's third-floor pool in the Ulsoor area. An American guest, Mathew Desantis, and a hotel lifeguard, Rahul Tiwari, sustained injuries while attempting to rescue the victims, The Statesman reported.
Manipal Hospital stated that Theiss was brought dead, while doctors were unable to revive Horvat following cardiac arrest. Desantis, who reported a headache after sensing a current in the water, and Tiwari, who suffered shocks after entering the pool, have both been discharged, according to The Hindu.
Preliminary suspicions from the Scene of Crime team point to a short circuit and potential damage to the wiring for the pool lights, The Hindu reported. An official noted that while pool lights typically operate at 2 to 3 volts, the voltage in this instance may have been higher.
A complaint has been filed alleging negligence by the hotel management regarding pool maintenance, The Statesman reported. The Electrical Inspectorate is currently conducting a technical examination to determine the precise source of the suspected leakage.
The hotel has shut the pool for inspection. The Conrad Hotel's website stated on Saturday that the swimming pool would remain closed for maintenance from October 31 to November 30.