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Grandmother drowns trying to save grandson

Published: 27 May 12 10:39 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41066/20120527/

A 68-year-old woman drowned on Saturday while trying to save her two grandsons who had strayed too far from a beach in southern Stockholm.

The boys, aged 7 and 9-years-old, were swimming in the sunshine at Sätra beach in southern Stockholm when they ran into trouble.

Their grandmother was keeping an eye on them from the beach and jumped in the water at around 3pm when she saw that they needed help.

"There was a grandmother who was there swimming with her grandchildren. Something went wrong and she went in to save the children, but died herself," said Towe Hägg at Stockholm police.

According to witness reports, the woman managed to pull one of her grandchildren to safety on the beach.

The second child, aged 7, was dragged from the water by other swimmers, but the 68-year-old remained in the water and despite attempts to save her life she died.

The 7-year-old was rushed to Astrid Lindgren's children's hospital in Solna in an ambulance but later died from his injuries.

"The boy was put in a respirator during the night but it wasn't possible to save him," said Linda Feldt at Stockholm police to the Aftonbladet daily.

The newspaper reported that the beach was busy at the time and many people were left shocked by the events.

The police are treating the incident as a tragic accident and don't suspect that any crime has been committed.

TT/The Local/pvs (news@thelocal.se)

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13:43 May 27, 2012 by Svensksmith
She went out as a hero.
15:16 May 27, 2012 by proteasome
"The newspaper reported that the beach was busy at the time and many people were left shocked by the events."

Instead of being shocked why were they not helping? It seems she managed to reach one grandson. I doubt she was the fastest swimmer on the beach to reach the second. I have wished that beaches in Sweden had life guards on the crowded beaches. It is a good summer job for teenagers and a worthy investment from the local communities.
16:29 May 27, 2012 by strixy
If there were so many people why noone helped? A Polish man jumped off a ferry in Sarpsborg in Norway to save a Norwegian boy (2 years old). During the Breivik massacre it was tourists from abroad who helped the most. What is wrong with Scandinavians?
21:41 May 27, 2012 by dizzymoe33
I agree about hiring some lifeguards during the Summer months. It is just so sad that two people had to die because no one would go into the water and help the woman out. Sad so very sad!
00:35 May 28, 2012 by Trenatos
She died a heros death, and will be remembered.
06:55 May 28, 2012 by gpafledthis
Grannie goes direct to the Hall of Heros !!
08:35 May 28, 2012 by robban70226
vERY sad, sHOCKING tragic accident !!!!!!
13:24 May 28, 2012 by strixy
@ barock and roll

How selfish tot hink like that! Maybe they should spare a thought that not everyone is in the position to ask for help, especially while having their mouth filled with water! If you see a child drowning, do you really wait for it to say 'excuse me, would you be so kind as to offer me some assistance in freeing myself from this predicament'? I don't think so!
20:32 May 28, 2012 by Trenatos
@Strixy & Barock and Roll, you should look into something called "The bystander effect".

In essence, it states that the more people are present, the less likely it is that one of them will help without being prompted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Also, people did help. Just not from the start. This implies that people may not have realized that there was a problem right away, but when they did, they did what they could to help.
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