Paros: business owner to prosecutor after child drowning

A four-year-old boy was found unconscious in the pool of a catering business in Pounta, Paros on Saturday afternoon, August 8. Two young customers discovered the child in the water and immediately alerted staff, who retrieved him. He was transported by ambulance to Paros Health Center, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. The case has engaged island authorities from the outset.

The business operates two pools connected to each other, a detail being examined during investigation. Following the incident, the child’s parents and the business owner were arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide. The parents were released late Saturday, August 8. The owner remained in custody and was referred to the prosecutor on Sunday, August 9. According to reports, he holds a lifeguard certification at the facility.

The case is referred to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Syros, which has jurisdiction over the Cyclades. The investigation focuses on four questions: whether required safety measures were observed at the pool area, who was supervising the child at that moment, how much time elapsed between discovery and retrieval, and whether other persons bear responsibility. All individuals involved are protected by the presumption of innocence until investigation concludes.

Pounta lies on Paros’s western side, one of the island’s most crowded locations during summer months. Catering businesses with pools have become a common model in the Cyclades in recent years, with licensing and oversight determined case-by-case by relevant authorities. August peak season multiplies visitors to such venues. The business remained closed on Sunday, August 9 as a sign of mourning, with owner expressing condolences to the family.

The incident reopens discussion on safety standards for pools at tourist businesses in the islands—an issue affecting the entire Cyclades. Published accounts conflict regarding parents’ location at the time; authorities are investigating this discrepancy. The exact time of incident has not been officially confirmed. Investigators await full investigation completion and further announcements from the prosecutor’s office.