An Ontario mother is sharing her experience after her nine-year-old son suffered severe facial injuries at a resort pool in the Dominican Republic during a vacation in July. Caitlin Krille, from Richmond Hill, Ontario, reported that the incident occurred at the Ocean El Faro Resort in Punta Cana.
Krille explained that her son was persuaded to participate in a swimming game. Although he arrived at the pool wearing swim goggles, an entertainer told him to remove them, claiming that using goggles would be unfair. Following the instruction, Krille’s son jumped into the water without his goggles.
While swimming underwater, the boy collided face-first with a pool bar stool that had missing tiles and sharp edges. Krille described the moment her son surfaced, stating, “I didn’t know if he had his eyes hurt or his throat has been sliced. The blood was pouring down his face.”
After emerging from the water, he was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where a surgeon stitched up deep lacerations to his forehead and above his nose. “There were deep lacerations on his forehead and a huge hole opening above his nose and his nose bridge,” Krille recalled.
In the aftermath of the incident, Krille discovered more exposed, jagged edges and tiles missing from various areas of the pool, prompting her to demand that resort staff shut the pool down. “The entire pool is missing pieces, which leaves sharp concrete underneath,” she said. “I want the resort to drain the pool and do the repairs needed so no other family has to go through this.”
Efforts to obtain a response from the Ocean El Faro Resort were unsuccessful. Krille had booked her trip through Sunwing Vacations, which stated that the safety and well-being of their customers is a priority. A spokesperson added that the company is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Personal injury lawyer Nainesh Kotak highlighted the complexities of pursuing personal injury claims outside of Canada. He emphasized the importance of having travel medical insurance when traveling abroad to ensure coverage for potential medical emergencies.
Following the incident, Krille learned that the pool had been closed for repairs. Though her son is recovering, she noted that he will bear scars from the injury. She cautioned other families to remain vigilant when vacationing at resorts in foreign countries, as safety standards may differ from those in Canada.
