Belgium
Parents leave their children in the sun and go swimming in the outdoor pool – rescue workers intervene
Two young children were left unattended at an outdoor pool. One of the children was only six months old. (icon picture)
© Hartmut Kosig
The high temperatures are currently causing problems for many people in Europe. Two children left by their parents at a water park in Belgium were in particularly grave danger because of the heat. Rescue workers had to intervene.
This article first appeared on RTL.de
This family bathing trip could have ended in tragedy in Hannut, Belgium. A six-month-old baby and his one-and-a-half-year-old sibling were found in poor health at the Plopsaqua water park, Belgian media reports. They had probably just been left alone, because there was no trace of their parents. They were later found splashing around in the fun pool while the rescue workers were trying to take care of their children.
Children were found abandoned
A pool employee noticed movement on a stack of bags on Sunday, reports Steve van den Kerkhof from Plopsaqua. “He thought at first that an animal was going to search her. When he got closer, he saw a baby and another very young child, alone, apparently abandoned,” the daily Le Soir quoted the general manager as saying.
The two young children were said to be in poor condition, which is not surprising given the high temperatures in Europe. Media unanimously report that one of the children is a six-month-old baby and the other a one-and-a-half year old toddler. They couldn’t have understood each other. At first there was no trace of her parents. The water park employees then informed rescue workers and the police.
Arrest warrant against the parents
According to a report by “RTL Belgium”, the parents of the two abandoned children could have been found in one of the pools. However, they are said to have been anything but pleased with the intervention of the park and the involvement of the police and emergency services. They were concerned about the cost of ambulance transport, but not about the health of their children.
The baby and toddler were taken to a hospital for medical treatment. On Monday the redeeming news: Both would no longer be in mortal danger.
An arrest warrant for neglect had been issued against the parents, reports “RTL Belgium”. The public prosecutor’s office in Liège took over the investigation.