Bengaluru shocker: Two foreign nationals die of suspected electrocution in 5-star hotel pool; negligence case registered

Two foreign nationals, a German Lufthansa crew member and a Slovakian IBM employee, died after suspected electric shocks at the swimming pool of a five-star hotel in Bengaluru. While an American guest and a hotel pool attendant were injured while trying to save them. Police have registered a case following a complaint alleging hotel negligence.

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The incident occurred on Friday evening at the third-floor swimming pool of Conrad Bengaluru, a luxury hotel in the Halasuru area, also known as Ulsoor.

German Lufthansa crew member and IBM employee identified

Police identified the deceased as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German national working with Lufthansa, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovakian national employed as a project manager with IBM. Both men were staying at the hotel.

According to the complaint filed by Theiss's wife, Silvia Ottawa, the two men suffered electric shocks while trying to get out of the swimming pool and subsequently drowned. She accused the hotel management of failing to maintain the pool properly. 

Two injured during rescue attempt at Conrad Bengaluru

An American guest, Mathew Desantis, 41, and the hotel's pool attendant Rahul Tiwari, 28, were injured while trying to rescue the two men. All four were taken to Manipal Hospitals for emergency treatment.

Hospital officials said Theiss was brought dead. Doctors attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Horvat, but he could not be revived and was pronounced dead that evening.

In a statement, Dr Mabel, head of emergency medicine at Manipal Hospitals, said the American guest reported a headache and was in shock after the rescue attempt. The pool attendant was also admitted in a state of shock. Both were stable.

Bengaluru police investigate suspected electrical leakage

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said investigators suspected electrical leakage in the pool area but could not confirm what had happened without medical and technical reports.

Police have cordoned off the area and are checking the circumstances surrounding the incident. A case has been registered following the complaint from Theiss's wife. 

Investigators are examining evidence from the pool area and will have to establish whether an electrical fault occurred, how the guests came into contact with any current and whether safety procedures were followed. The allegation of negligence remains under investigation.

Conrad Bengaluru issues statement, swimming pool closed

Conrad Bengaluru said it was saddened by the deaths and was assisting the authorities. In its statement, the hotel said, "The cause of the incident has not yet been established and remains subject to a comprehensive investigation by local authorities."

The hotel added that it was offering support to those affected and would continue to cooperate with investigators. The property is part of Hilton's luxury Conrad brand.

The hotel's website carried a notice on Saturday that the swimming pool would be closed for maintenance from October 31 to November 30. The closure follows the incident, although the hotel has not identified a specific technical fault.

Lufthansa has confirmed the death of a crew member during a layover in Bengaluru. 

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