According to report from People, In February 2025 a 5-year-old girl was seriously injured in what is being described as a freak pool accident during a family vacation at Punta Mita Resort in Mexico. The incident allegedly occurred at a resort pool when a drain malfunctioned, trapping the child with extreme suction.
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Her parents tried to pull her free, but the force was described as overwhelming. Pool systems can circulate thousands of gallons of water per minute, creating a level of pressure that is nearly impossible to fight with human strength alone.
What struck me most reading this was the delay in stopping the pump. According to reports, family members struggled to locate the emergency shutoff and had to go beneath the pool area to turn it off. Those minutes mattered.
"The suction was so strong that [her] small intestine was ripped out of her body," the complaint states.
"All of the small bowel was gone," Bond toldCBSNews. "We brought the colon up and joined the colon to the small bowel, so essentially she's connected, but she has no small bowel."
"Because of the defective nature of the Hayward drain, [Paloma's] life was tragically altered, and she will endure continued medical issues for the rest of her life," the complaint states.
In a statement, a company spokesperson said the company was “saddened to learn of the injuries Paloma Quatrini suffered while at the Kupuri Beach Club at the Punta Mita Resort in Nayarit, Mexico,” and added that they “wish her a speedy recovery.”
They recently refiled the lawsuit, naming Hayward as the sole defendant, but kept it in Pittsburgh due to a majority of witnesses, include the Quatrini's medical team, are in the city.
The Hidden Risk Most Travelers Never Think About
Pool drain suction injuries, sometimes called entrapment incidents, can occur when a drain is uncovered or malfunctioning. The force created can trap a person underwater or cause severe internal injury in seconds. Safety regulations exist, but enforcement and maintenance can vary widely depending on location and facility. And yet, most of us never look at a pool and think to check the drain.
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What Travelers Can Actually Do Before Getting in the Water
Here are a few practical habits that feel small but matter:
Know your exit strategy
It sounds dramatic, but it is not. Scan for signage or ask staff where the emergency shutoff switch is. In an emergency, seconds count.
Ironically, shallow pools can feel the safest, which can lead to more relaxed supervision. This incident allegedly happened in a children’s pool.
Speak up, even on vacation
Travel often lives in the glow of golden hour, the perfect itinerary, and curated joy. But part of being a thoughtful traveler is holding space for reality too. It's important to consider potential risks, especially when traveling with children.
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