Girl drowns at RAK hotel, three staff charged

Three staff members at a Ras Al Khaimah hotel are to be tried for failing to prevent an incident in which a five-year-old Russian girl drowned at the property's swimming pool.

Prosecutors in the emirate have charged the head of security and two rescuers, and will also try the child's mother for negligence.

According to Emirates 24/7, the girl had been playing with her mother before sneaking into the adult swimming pool.

It reports that there was a sign warning that there were no rescuers at the pool and that guests were swimming at their own risk.

The head of security at the hotel has denied responsibility for the child’s death, arguing that the mother should have prevented her from going to that pool.

He added that 12 rescuers were deployed around the property at pool designated for children. After being taken out of the water by two rescuers, the girl was rushed to hospital, where she died three weeks later.

All four are set to go on trial at the end of this month.