Tragedy in Poland: 14-Year-Old Girl Dies from Hypothermia Outside Supermarket
In Poland, a 14-year-old girl died from hypothermia after feeling unwell on her way to school and sitting for several hours outside a supermarket in the city centre in the southern part of the country. According to Polish media, passers-by did not realize that something might be wrong with the girl, who had a phone in her hand.
On Tuesday morning, the schoolgirl called her father, saying she felt unwell and didn't know where she was. After this call, the family lost contact with her, and after a few hours of independent search, the girl's father sought police assistance.
The girl sat near a supermarket at a bus stop, where many people pass during the day. Only in the afternoon, when she was already unconscious, did someone notice her – a man who took her to the supermarket and called an ambulance.
The child was alone for several hours near a store in Andrychow, about 500 meters from the police station. None of the passer-by inquired about her fate. When the girl was found, she was lying in the snow near an advertising billboard and was already unconscious, reported the man who brought the teenager into the warm store.
Before the arrival of the ambulance team, the 14-year-old girl was resuscitated in the store. Later, she was taken to the hospital, but her life could not be saved.
Doctors from one of the hospitals in Krakow found that her body temperature had dropped to 22 degrees. The girl passed away on Wednesday.
The family of the deceased 14-year-old girl from Andrychow accuses the police of slowness after the girl's father reported to the police that he was looking for his daughter. According to 'Rzeczpospolita,' the last conversation between the father and the girl took place at 8:17. Then, after unsuccessful searches for his daughter, the father reported to the police at 10:30. The police were supposed to take action an hour later.
Currently, an internal police investigation is underway in Poland to determine whether the police followed all procedures in this case. The behaviour of the police is being examined by the Voivodeship Police Department in Krakow and the Control Department of the Main Police Headquarters. The investigation into the unintentional killing of the fourteen-year-old teenager was initiated by the District Prosecutor's Office in Wadowice and transferred to the District Prosecutor's Office in Krakow.
Medical professionals urge people not to be indifferent when they see someone sitting or lying in the snow. They encourage calling for help, as it can save someone's life.