"Did Our Best"... Residents Express Regret Over 'Dongtan Water Playground Death'

Resident "No one to blame... Everyone is making efforts"
Water play stopped immediately after the accident
Police to investigate circumstances after autopsy

Photo unrelated to the article. [Photo by Pixabay]

A post appealing for restraint from speculation regarding the water play area accident at an apartment complex in Dongtan New Town, Gyeonggi Province, has been shared.

The author, Mr. A, presumed to be a resident of the Dongtan apartment where the accident occurred, posted on his social media on the 26th. He began by saying, "There were too many provocative comments and speculations," and added, "From my very own perspective, the large event held for the first time in the apartment since COVID-19 was filled with anticipation and excitement from both children and adults." He continued, "Apartment staff, parents, and facility personnel all watched over the children and had a good time together," recalling, "For children who only attended academies, this was a much-needed break, and even strangers exchanged greetings, making it an enjoyable time."

Mr. A explained, "It seems the incident that appears on the Sunday evening news happened," and said, "My husband was watching our children, and I went to find the food truck when suddenly a crowd gathered and it became chaotic. Looking to the side, I saw a child lying limp on the ground, and adults were taking turns performing CPR and artificial respiration."

He added, "A woman who appeared to be the mother was kneeling beside the child, visibly distressed. A resident performing CPR was the father who came alone with the child, and another mother took over the procedure," and said, "We were watching with hope that the child would soon regain consciousness, but when the child did not, the mother screamed out once in distress. While waiting for the 119 emergency responders, staff rushed over with a defibrillator."

He stated, "Online, it was truly upsetting to see many comments blaming someone," but emphasized, "I can say that everyone present did their best in their respective roles to prevent the situation from escalating into a bigger accident." He continued, "The staff managed the situation to prevent further harm, and all parents, including myself, helped manage the situation on behalf of the mother so that the emergency responders could work quickly." Finally, he appealed, "The water play was immediately stopped after the accident," and said, "Everyone parted ways with one heart, hoping only for the child's recovery. Please pray for the child and for the parents' peace of mind."

Earlier, on the 25th, an 8-year-old girl died in an accident at a water play facility within an apartment complex located in Mokdong, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. The child was found unconscious by residents and was transported to a hospital for treatment but ultimately passed away. The water depth of the play area was 40 to 50 cm, and it was operated by an external company under the supervision of the apartment management office. The police plan to conduct an autopsy and investigate the detailed circumstances of the accident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.