Overview

• An 11-year-old girl with autism died on August 17 at the Wam Park leisure base in La Grande-Paroisse after slipping away from her group and being found in cardiac arrest by a lifeguard.
• Her death is the third similar case reported in a week, following the drowning of an 11-year-old in Val-de-Marne and a 7-year-old in Allier during supervised outings.
• The Moulins prosecutor opened an involuntary-manslaughter inquiry into the Allier case, where the child left supervision near a non-bathing lake and four to six of eight staff were present at the time.
• Wam Park’s director reported six lifeguards on site, including one for the bathing area, and the Arpajon center said 11 educators accompanied 12 youths with disabilities.
• Santé publique France reports 193 drowning deaths from June 1 to July 23, up 45% year-on-year, as experts and associations urge a dedicated supervisor, better training, early swim instruction, and clearer rules for children with disabilities.