A tragic accident occurred in Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, when a 36-year-old father died after attempting to demonstrate a diving technique to his young daughter in a shallow pool. The incident, which happened on October 18, has sparked outrage after surveillance footage revealed that no one came to the man’s aid for over 16 minutes.
According to NetEase News, the victim, surnamed Hu, had taken his 7-year-old daughter to the Boruiz Swimming Center that evening to practice diving. Video footage showed him diving headfirst into the shallow end — only 1.1 meters deep — where his head struck the pool floor with great force. The impact fractured his cervical spine, leaving him paralyzed and floating motionless on the water’s surface. Despite being rushed to the hospital and kept in intensive care for five days, Hu ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Hu’s family expressed deep anger at the swimming pool’s management. His cousin, Ms. Zou, revealed that the man’s daughter desperately tried to pull her father up for over 16 minutes but couldn’t move him. “No one helped her. She didn’t even know she had to call for help,” Zou said tearfully. “If the lifeguards had acted immediately, this would not have happened.”
The swimming facility stated that three lifeguards were on duty at the time, but they reportedly mistook the motionless man for someone playing in the water with his child since it was during dinner hour. The management defended itself by saying the pool had safety warnings clearly posted, emphasizing that diving headfirst in a shallow 1.1-meter area is inherently dangerous.
Medical experts noted that diving headfirst into shallow water can easily cause cervical spine fractures or spinal cord injuries, which may lead to paralysis or respiratory failure — even without water inhalation. Emergency doctors stressed that any delay in treatment after such an injury can drastically reduce survival chances.
Under China’s Swimming Pool Management Regulations, lifeguards are required to patrol the pool every 15 minutes and respond immediately to any unusual situations. Authorities have since launched an investigation into whether the facility failed to fulfill its safety obligations. Hu’s family has requested an autopsy, and discussions regarding compensation and responsibility are ongoing.
