swimming pool suction

[Megan Knight]

this comes verbatim from the South African Indepnedent Newspapers Wire
Service, Saturday, December 12. it hasn't even been subbed.

Two young children enjoying the perfect summer weather died an horrific
death when they were sucked into a powerful valve at the bottom of a
public swimming pool at Mnandi near Strandfontein.
Horrified bystanders watched as piece of flesh appeared on the surface
of the pool. Late yesterday afternoon engineers were still frantically
trying to drain the pool to recover the remains of the two children.
Horrified holidaymakers could see the body of one child stuck in the
valve from the surface of the pool. A witness said at about 2.40
yesterday afternoon he suddenly saw an 11-year old boy disappear under
the water near the water recycling suction valve at the bottom of the
superslide at Mnandi Pool Club. Minutes later he saw another child
disappear.
Police spokesman Vivienne Phillips said children ran to the beach
constables and reported two of their friends had gone missing in the
pool. The police and other emergency workers rushed to the scene and
could clearly see the body of one child stuck in the powerful suction
inlet.
It is suspected that the lid covering the suction device may have been
removed. When Sunday Argus arrived at the scene pieces of flesh
drifting in the pool and late yesterday afternoon emergency workers
were still trying to get the bodies to the surface.
Two children have been reported missing and it is suspected that the
second child may be stuck behind the child that is visible from the
surface. The sex and age of the second child is not known.
ends 96.12.14.1849 Willem Steenkamp