Girl, 4, Drowns During Swimming Lesson At Private Nursery With No Lifeguard

A four-year-old girl tragically drowned in a pool considered too deep for children at a private nursery.

The devastating event occurred at a nursery in the Suleymaniye neighborhood of Inegol, Bursa Province, Turkey, on August 12.

Video evidence showed staff struggling to save young Berra Dizi after she was found floating lifeless in the water, with a swimming teacher pulling her from the pool.

A nurse at the scene administered first aid before paramedics rushed Berra to a state hospital. She was later transferred to Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital but passed away in intensive care seven days later.

An investigation revealed that the pool, used for the nursery’s summer activities, was 74 centimeters (29 inches) deep, despite safety regulations capping children’s pools at 50 centimeters (19 inches).

Investigators also noted the absence of a certified lifeguard on duty and that the swimming teacher was not in the pool with the children at the time of the incident.

A 12-page report commissioned by prosecutors indicated that Berra’s mother had reported her daughter experienced febrile seizures as a baby, but she had been seizure-free for two years and was taken off medication on her doctor’s advice.

The nursery claimed Berra suffered an epileptic fit in the pool, suggesting her condition, not negligence, caused the drowning.

However, her parents refuted this, asserting that Berra had outgrown her childhood seizures and had no ongoing medical conditions.

Hospital records confirmed drowning as the cause of death, the parents maintained, arguing the seizure claim was fabricated to avoid blame. The report deemed the nursery operator E.B.O. “primarily at fault” and the swimming teacher N.T. “secondarily at fault.”

Berra’s parents were also labeled “primarily at fault” for not fully disclosing her medical history, a claim they called deeply unjust. Berra’s father, Ismail Dizi, criticized the expert panel, noting that two members were mechanical engineers who improperly issued medical opinions instead of evaluating safety violations.

He stated the nursery lacked proper permits and safety equipment and should never have operated a pool.

Moum Beyza Turan said parents were instructed not to send their children with arm floats that day and believes her daughter would still be alive if safety protocols had been followed.

She noted that the nursery remains operational despite the ongoing investigation and pledged to continue seeking justice for her daughter.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli