BALIK PULAU: Two seven-year-old children, a boy and a girl, nearly drowned before being found unconscious in the swimming pool of a condominium in Bayan Baru on Saturday (Jan 10) morning, Sinar Harian reports.
In the incident at about 9am, police received a report regarding the case involving both victims, who were on holiday with their family and staying at a homestay in the residence since Jan 9.
Southwest District OCPD Asst Comm Anuwal Ab Wahab said initial investigations found that the girl’s father had received a phone call from his younger sister informing him that his child and another child had been found unconscious by the poolside.
He said the man then took both victims to Pantai Hospital Bayan Baru for initial treatment before they were referred to Penang Hospital for further treatment.
“Inspection at the scene found that the incident occurred at the swimming pool on the 42nd floor of the condominium, and there were no staff present at the location when the incident happened,” the Malay language daily reported him as saying on Sunday (Jan 11).
He said a review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage found that the man’s younger sister had taken both victims to the swimming pool at around 8.30am.
“The CCTV footage shows both victims walking from the children’s pool to the adult pool before they were found unconscious by members of the public,” he said.
He added that the man was expected to leave Penang on Jan 11 after staying at the condominium for a family holiday.
According to ACP Anuwal, as of press time, one victim was reported to be in critical condition and is being treated in the intensive care unit, while the other victim has regained consciousness and is receiving further treatment in the children’s ward at Penang Hospital.
“The public, especially parents and guardians, are advised to always monitor children’s movements when they are in swimming pool areas to prevent undesirable incidents,” he said.
