Children's games in Vilnius fountain nearly end in tragedy: Warning issued about deadly danger

A playful outing in a Vilnius fountain nearly turned tragic when children lifted maintenance grates and ventured into the fountain's technical areas. The incident, reported by the Vilnius street maintenance company 'Grinda,' prompted an immediate response from emergency services.

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First of all, it is very important to understand one thing – this is not a swimming pool. It is a city fountain, whose purpose is to decorate public space, not to be a place for swimming or games.

Video footage showed the children, while playing in the fountain, lifting the grates and entering the machinery space. An emergency service crew arrived and placed granite blocks on the grates to temporarily secure the area. The company responsible for the fountain's upkeep was contacted to assess and address the dangerous situation.

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This is technical access for specialists, not a place where unauthorized persons should enter.

Mantvydas Šakalys, head of the company maintaining the fountain, stressed that city fountains are not designed for swimming or children's games. He explained that the technical access points are not bolted shut to allow for daily maintenance of equipment like pumps and filters. "This is technical access for specialists, not a place where unauthorized persons should enter," Šakalys stated.

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The operating pump systems create strong water currents, so entering the technical zone can have extremely dire consequences.

Šakalys warned that the operating pump systems create strong water currents, making entry into the technical zone extremely hazardous. He drew a parallel to a past accident at Vilnius's 'Vichy' water park, where a child was severely injured by a water intake system. "No technology can protect against the deliberate dismantling of technical elements or improper use," he added, urging parents to supervise their children and explain that fountain components are not toys.

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No technology can protect against the deliberate dismantling of technical elements or improper use.