It didn’t need to happen!

A 15-year-old boy is dead. Drowned. Alone in the dark. All because basic safety procedures were ignored.

The teenager was taking part in a nighttime scouting skills test on Lake Ośno, tasked with swimming across a section of the lake to light a fire on the other side — all while unguarded, and untethered.

Yes, you read that right: no rope, no floatation, no boat tether. Nothing.

He vanished into the water before anyone could save him.

At around 1 a.m., under the supervision of a 21-year-old scout leader and a 19-year-old lifeguard, the boy entered the lake. Within moments, he began to struggle. Moments later, he was gone. His body was recovered four hours later.

Authorities have since arrested both supervisors. While they were sober, police confirmed that basic safety protocols were ignored — including the crucial rule of keeping swimmers tethered from a safety boat during overnight water tasks.

“This should never have happened,” said Deputy Inspector Iwona Liszczyńska. “He was not secured. The rules were not followed.”

The District Prosecutor in Poznań is now investigating. An autopsy is scheduled. The camp has been shut down.

And we’re left asking:
What were they thinking?
Why test a child’s limits at night, in deep water, without proper safeguards?

Yes, accidents happen. But this wasn’t an accident — this was preventable. And someone should answer for it.