Second Tragedy in Days: 16-Year-Old Drowns in Quarry in Grobiņa Parish
On Thursday, a 16-year-old drowned in a quarry in Grobiņa Parish. This is the second child drowning this week; since mid-May, 16 people have drowned in Latvia, half during the recent holiday weekend.
The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) received a call on Thursday about a drowning person in a quarry in Grobiņa Parish, shortly before 2 p.m. Upon arrival, rescuers saw no one above the water and began searching with a rescue board and a drone. Divers later arrived, found the deceased 16-year-old, and brought him to shore.
This year, since the swimming season began on May 15, 16 people have been recovered from water bodies. Half of them died during the recent Jāņi holiday weekend: a boy born in 2011 was found in the Gauja River in Valmiera, and a youth born in 2007 was found in a pond in Smiltene Municipality after falling from a SUP board.
As hot weather continues, VUGD reminds about water safety. Swimming under the influence of alcohol, in unfamiliar places, or alone is especially dangerous. The rescue service urges people to choose safe swimming spots, not to overestimate their abilities, and always supervise children near water. Reckless behavior, such as attempting to swim across a water body, can lead to tragic consequences.
