A French mother and her daughter are recovering after a dramatic accident that saw their car plunge into an indoor swimming pool at a community leisure centre in La Ciotat, near Marseille.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when the 38-year-old woman reportedly confused the accelerator and brake pedals while manoeuvring her Jaguar XF in the centre’s parking area. Instead of stopping, the vehicle surged forward, shot over a slope behind the parking bay and smashed through a safety fence and the building’s glass façade.
The car then travelled approximately 30 metres before landing in the facility’s 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
At the time of the crash, around 20 swimmers were in the water, according to local outlet Var Martin. Panic briefly spread through the pool area as shattered glass fell into the water and the vehicle sank.
The mother and her daughter were trapped inside the submerged car, but quick action by two lifeguards — assisted by a member of the public — prevented tragedy. The trio managed to pull both occupants out of the vehicle while it was underwater.
The accident happened at around 8.50pm, shortly after lifeguards had arrived to open the pool for late-evening swimming sessions. Their timely presence is believed to have been critical in averting fatalities.
Remarkably, no serious injuries were reported. One man sustained minor cuts from broken glass, while the mother and child were taken to hospital as a precaution. Authorities later confirmed that both were doing well.
Local officials said firefighters would oversee the removal of the vehicle from the pool, a task complicated by the damage caused to the structure. The leisure centre has been closed indefinitely due to what officials described as “significant damage” to the facility.
While investigations continue, the incident has been described as a rare but sobering reminder of how quickly routine situations can escalate — and how fast thinking by bystanders and emergency staff can make the difference between life and death.
