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Car Plunges Into La Ciotat Municipal Pool After Wrong Maneuver as Lifeguards Save Mother, 5-Year-Old

Officials cite a mistaken maneuver as the likely cause, prompting a complex recovery with a weeks-long closure.

Overview

  • Around 20 swimmers were in the 25‑meter pool when a car broke through a fence and bay window on Thursday evening and came to rest in the main basin without striking anyone.
  • Two on‑duty lifeguards, aided by a bystander, pulled a 38‑year‑old driver and her daughter from the submerged vehicle, with one rescuer recounting the child endured about ten seconds underwater.
  • The pair suffered no serious physical injuries but were taken to La Ciotat hospital in shock, and one bystander sustained a minor cut from glass.
  • Authorities describe the incident as a false maneuver, with early reports pointing to pedal or gear confusion, and no criminal conclusions have been announced.
  • The city has secured the site, opened psychological support for staff, and is preparing a technically demanding extraction that could involve divers and lifting equipment, keeping the facility closed for several weeks.