8-Year-Old Girl Injured After Being Sucked Into Jacuzzi Pump During Family Vacation

An eight-year-old girl from Beit Shemesh was urgently hospitalized after being forcefully sucked against the wall of a jacuzzi pump during a family vacation at a northern Israel guesthouse. Despite adult supervision, the girl became trapped for several minutes, causing severe pain and difficulty breathing. Her family struggled to free her, and only after her father unplugged the jacuzzi's power supply was she released.

The girl was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital's pediatric emergency department with extensive subcutaneous bleeding and intense pain in her upper back. Medical staff, including Dr. Nurit Feinstein and senior physician Dr. Deborah Friedler, conducted thorough examinations due to concerns about internal injuries from the vacuum effect. A CT scan was performed while the girl lay on her stomach to minimize discomfort, and she received strong painkillers.

Plastic surgery consultant Dr. Lior Solomon assessed the skin damage, warning of possible irreversible tissue necrosis. Fortunately, no internal organ damage was found. After treatment and pain management, the girl was discharged with instructions for follow-up care at a plastic surgery clinic.

The girl's mother, who has seven children, described the terrifying incident, noting that the girl had been sitting near one of the jacuzzi's suction openings when she suddenly screamed in pain. Attempts to turn off the jacuzzi failed until the father unplugged it. The suction cover was found unsecured and easily removed, exposing the dangerous pump opening. The mother urged other parents to carefully check jacuzzi suction systems before allowing children to enter the water, emphasizing the unexpected risks despite careful supervision.