A family vacation turned into a nightmare at a Croatian waterpark this week when a toddler slipped from her father’s grasp on a waterslide and plummeted nearly 13 feet onto a concrete surface—resulting in fatal brain injuries.
The victim, a 21-month-old girl from Germany, died at a Croatian hospital hours after the tragic fall, despite emergency airlift efforts and frantic attempts to revive her on-site.
The incident unfolded at the Aquagan waterpark in Lopar, a resort town on the island of Rab that draws families from across Europe during the summer.
“We heard screaming. It was chaos. Then someone said a child had fallen,” a witness told local reporters. “People were crying. A doctor came running.”
According to bystanders, the toddler was in her father’s arms as they descended the slide when she slipped and was violently thrown from the ride. She landed headfirst onto a hard concrete platform—just feet away from a children’s splash area.
A Slovenian doctor who happened to be nearby performed CPR on the toddler until paramedics arrived. A helicopter medevac was called in immediately.
Dr. Iva Bilić Čače, head of pediatrics at Rijeka Hospital, where the girl was treated, confirmed that the child had sustained multiple catastrophic injuries.
“There was trauma to the brain and damage to internal organs,” she stated. “Despite our best efforts, she did not survive the night.”
Croatian authorities, including the Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Department, have launched a full-scale investigation into how the accident occurred and whether safety protocols were violated.
The town’s mayor, Zdenko Jakuc, said the local community has been left “deeply shaken.”
“Everything stopped when the helicopter arrived. We all looked to the sky, praying for a miracle,” he told reporters. “This has never happened before. We are devastated.”
Lopar is widely known as a peaceful, family-friendly coastal destination. Its beaches and small-town charm attract tens of thousands of tourists annually.
“This park has operated for decades without a single serious incident,” said a spokesperson from the Lopar tourist board. “This has shocked everyone. Lopar is a place families trust.”
Josip Ivanić, the longtime owner of the Aquagan waterpark, said he wasn’t on the premises when the tragedy occurred.
“This is a nightmare for us. A nightmare for the family. I don’t know how it could’ve happened,” he said. “Police are investigating, but people are already speculating and telling different stories. I’ve run this park for over 30 years. We’ve never seen anything like this.”
President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the incident during a White House press pool stop, called the event “a heartbreaking tragedy that no parent should ever face.”
“Melania and I send our deepest condolences to the family. We are praying for them during this unimaginable time,” the president said.
As the investigation continues, the waterpark remains closed indefinitely.
Officials are urging vacationing families to double-check ride safety guidelines and remain vigilant, especially when riding with small children. No criminal charges have been filed as of yet, but authorities have not ruled out further action pending the outcome of the investigation.
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