Toddler dies after slipping from father’s arms on water slide in Croatia

“It is an understatement to say that we are all extremely shaken." 

A 21-month old tragically lost her life after slipping from her father's arms going down a slide. Image: Supplied

A toddler has died after “slipping” from her father’s arms while going down a water slide at a Croatian water park.

The tragic accident took place at a water park called Aquagan, in Croatia, on Tuesday afternoon. 

The 21-month-old girl, from Germany, had been in her father's arms going down the slide when she slipped.  

A 21-month old tragically lost her life after slipping from her father's arms going down a slide. Image: Supplied

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"My daughter is dying"

According to local media, the infant is believed to have fallen from a height of about three and a half metres onto a concrete floor. 

Witnesses said the father cried out, “Don’t ask me anything, my daughter is dying!” as shocked patrons looked on.

A doctor, who happened to be nearby, immediately began resuscitation efforts and was reportedly able to briefly revive the girl. 

Emergency crews were quickly on the scene and transported the toddler to hospital by helicopter. She was later transferred to another medical facility for specialised treatment.

Doctors treated her for serious brain trauma and internal injuries, but despite their best efforts, she died in the early hours of the following morning.

In a statement, the Clinical Hospital Centre in Rijeka confirmed: “Despite prompt care, multiple interventions and intensive treatment, the child died in the morning hours.”

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"Everything stopped"

A witness told local media he heard shouting and crying before seeing a man carrying a “motionless” child.

 “We heard crying and shouting, we thought the child had drowned," he explained. 

Makarska Mayor Zdenko Jakuc told media it was the first serious incident he had heard of at the slide since it was built two decades ago.

“It is an understatement to say that we are all extremely shaken,” Mayor Zdenko Jakuc said.

“When the helicopter landed, everything stopped. We all looked at the sky and hoped for the best.”

Local police have launched an investigation to determine exactly what went wrong.

It remains unclear whether the slide was appropriate for a child of her age or if adequate safety measures were in place.

Originally published as Toddler dies after slipping from father’s arms on water slide in Croatia