A 7-year-old boy was using the jacuzzi at Seastrand Condominium in Pasir Ris with his mother when he was suddenly trapped underwater by the suction from the jacuzzi’s pressure pump. The boy lost consciousness and nearly drowned. He later suffered a cardiac arrest, brain swelling, and permanent scars on his body.
His father has since filed a lawsuit against the condominium’s management company, accusing it of negligence and seeking compensation, reported Shin Min Daily News.
According to court documents, the incident happened on February 22 at around 1:20pm. The boy had been enjoying the jacuzzi with his mother when the strong suction from the pressure pump pulled him underwater.
His mother tried to pull him out, but could not. Two members of the public also rushed to help, but they too were unable to rescue him. It was only after someone switched off the jacuzzi’s pressure pump that the boy was finally freed.
By then, the boy had already lost consciousness and was close to drowning. He required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and intensive care. He remained hospitalised for 17 days.
Medical reports showed that he suffered several injuries from the incident, including cardiac arrest, brain swelling, and chemical pneumonitis (lung inflammation caused by inhaling water and chemicals). He also sustained permanent scars caused by friction with the jacuzzi’s metal grating.
The boy’s father later filed a negligence suit against the condominium’s management company. He claimed that the management failed to:
-
Install a safety vacuum release system as recommended by the National Water Safety Council;
-
Provide an emergency shut-off button near the jacuzzi;
-
Install drain covers to prevent users from being trapped;
-
Ensure an automated external defibrillator (AED) was available nearby; and
-
Conduct proper maintenance and regular inspections of the jacuzzi.
Lawyer Viviene Sandhu represents the family from Clifford Law LLP. The case is currently being heard in the State Courts, which will decide whether the management company was negligent or if the responsibility should be shared with its contractors or the plaintiff. Another pre-trial conference is scheduled for November 21.
Condo management denies negligence
The condominium management company denied any wrongdoing, saying it had engaged independent contractors to inspect and maintain the jacuzzi.
It argued that the National Water Safety Council’s guidelines are only recommendations and not legally binding, so it was not required to install a safety vacuum release system.
The defence also pointed out that the family had lived in the condominium for about six years and should have been familiar with the rules for using the pool and jacuzzi, as well as the safety signs displayed nearby.
The company added that inspection and cleaning work had been carried out on or shortly before February 22, including checks to ensure that the jacuzzi’s emergency button was working properly.
Fault blamed on construction defect
The management company said that when an independent contractor inspected the jacuzzi on March 26, one of its two suction inlets was found to be completely blocked. They claimed this was a construction or installation defect caused by the main contractor and not the management company.
The defence also argued that the boy’s mother should bear partial responsibility. They claimed she was using her mobile phone during the incident and had allowed her son to operate the jacuzzi twice without supervision. According to the defence, she was seated about 10 metres away, with her view blocked by a lounge chair, and did not realise that her son had not resurfaced for some time.
