Two foreign nationals die in suspected electrocution at Bengaluru hotel pool
Two foreign nationals have died after a suspected electrocution in the swimming pool of a five-star hotel in Bengaluru, India, on Friday evening, 30 October. Police said the men were swimming in the third-floor outdoor pool at the Conrad Bengaluru hotel in the Halasuru area when the incident happened at about 5.30pm.
The men were identified as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German national and Lufthansa crew member who was staying in the city during a work layover, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovak national who worked as a project manager at the technology company IBM. Theiss was brought dead to Manipal Hospital, while doctors could not revive Horvat despite resuscitation efforts.
Two other people were hurt while trying to rescue them: Mathew Desantis, 41, an American tourist staying at the hotel, and Rahul Tiwari, 28, a pool attendant and lifeguard. Both were taken to Manipal Hospital and are reported to be stable and out of danger.
Why it matters
Police said early findings pointed to a suspected electrical leak in the pool, but the exact cause has not been confirmed. Investigators are looking at the pool’s underwater lighting, pump system and earthing, but police have not named any single part as the confirmed cause.
After a complaint from Horvat’s wife, police registered a case against the hotel management on charges related to causing death by negligence. Those are allegations, and the investigation will decide whether any safety failure played a part.
What happens next
Technical teams from the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board are examining the pool’s electrical installations, and officers from the electricity inspectorate have also been assigned. Forensic and post-mortem reports are still awaited.
The hotel has expressed its condolences, said it is cooperating with the investigation, and closed its outdoor pool for maintenance from 31 October to 30 November. Lufthansa has confirmed that one of its crew members died during a layover in Bengaluru and asked for privacy for those affected.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.europesays.com/germany/119834/ (Hindustan Times report via Europe Says, 31 October 2026)
- https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/10/31/lufthansa-crew-member-dies-among-2-dead-at-luxury-bengaluru-hotel/ (Aviation A2Z, 31 October 2026)
- https://coastaldigest.com/2-foreign-nationals-die-of-electrocution-while-swimming-in-bengaluru-5-star-hotel-pool/ (Coastal Digest, 31 October 2026)
