Summary: Five-year-old Paloma Quatrini was severely injured after becoming trapped by a pool drain at the Punta Mita Resort in Mexico in February 2025. The family alleges a defective drain cover manufactured by Hayward caused catastrophic internal injuries that required more than a dozen surgeries and left Paloma dependent on nightly parenteral nutrition. The Quatrini family has refiled a lawsuit in Pittsburgh naming Hayward as the sole defendant and is seeking damages while urging greater pool-safety awareness.
5-Year-Old Severely Injured By Alleged Defective Hotel Pool Drain; Family Sues Manufacturer
Paloma Quatrini (center) with her parents.Credit: CBS Pittsburgh/YouTube
A Pittsburgh family says their 5-year-old daughter, Paloma Quatrini, suffered catastrophic injuries after becoming trapped by a pool drain at the Kupuri Beach Club inside the Punta Mita Resort in Nayarit, Mexico, in February 2025. The accident occurred on the family's final day of vacation, according to a complaint filed in March 2025.
Incident Details
The complaint alleges that a protective cover on a shallow children's pool drain became defective and created powerful suction that trapped Paloma while she sat in the water with family members. According to the filing, family members were unable to free her and had difficulty locating an emergency shutoff; someone ultimately went underneath the pool to turn the system off.
Injuries and Medical Treatment
Paloma was taken to a nearby hospital and later flown to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The complaint states the suction caused catastrophic internal injuries, and pediatric transplant surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Bond performed life-saving surgery. Surgeons determined Paloma had lost her small bowel and have connected her remaining colon to restore bowel continuity. The family says she endured more than a dozen surgeries and now relies on nightly parenteral nutrition delivered through an infusion tube.
Pool drain (stock image).Credit: Getty
'As a dad, firstly, it's a horrifying accident,' Dr. Bond told media outlets after responding to the emergency call.
Legal Action
The family has filed a lawsuit naming Hayward, the company identified in the complaint as the designer and manufacturer of the drain cover. Hayward issued a statement saying the company is 'saddened to learn of the injuries Paloma Quatrini suffered' and wished her a speedy recovery. Hayward's legal team previously moved to dismiss an earlier version of the case on jurisdictional grounds, noting the incident occurred in Mexico while the company is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.
The Quatrini family initially filed a complaint in Pittsburgh in July that named additional defendants, but that filing was later withdrawn. They refiled in Pittsburgh naming Hayward as the sole defendant; their attorney, Robert Zimmerman, says most witnesses live in the Pittsburgh area and that the family does not want to litigate in Mexico. The family is seeking damages in excess of $150,000 and has requested a jury trial.
Public Safety Message
Paloma's parents are urging pool owners and caregivers to inspect drain covers and to know the location of emergency shutoffs before entering water with children. Carolina Velez, Paloma's mother, has said she wants others to learn from their tragedy and spread awareness about pool safety.
Note: The details above are drawn from the family’s complaint and media reporting. The case is ongoing and allegations have not been proven in court.
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