Teen paralyzed after botched dive in ‘pool squatting’ challenge sues owners: All about viral trend

An 18-year-old French man has initiated legal action against the owners of a private swimming pool after a failed dive resulted in paralysis from the neck down.
The incident occurred in 2022 when the young man, participating in the French trend known as “pool squatting,” entered the pool without authorization and suffered a severe spinal injury during his dive.
The teenager, who was engaging in a risky pool squatting challenge in Toulouse, France, asserts that the property owners are liable for his injuries. The Daily Mail reported that the teen is suing the apartment’s management company for negligence, contending that despite his illegal entry, the owners had a responsibility to ensure the pool was properly maintained.
Fabien Gaillard, a French lawyer, said to BFMTV, “When damage occurs on their property, in this case a swimming pool, the owners must answer to the damage that is caused to the people who injure themselves, even if they entered illegally.”

What is the ‘pool squatting’ challenge?

Pool squatting, which involves the unauthorized use of private swimming pools, has become an increasingly troublesome issue in France. The trend, sometimes promoted as a social media challenge, involves individuals illegally entering private pools for recreational purposes. The problem is compounded by the fact that France has over three million private swimming pools nationwide.
The property owners, who conveyed their astonishment and distress over the lawsuit, revealed that their pool has been a regular target for pool squatters since its installation six years ago. They reported that the illegal entry into their pool has been an annual occurrence and that the problem has only intensified with the growing popularity of pool squatting.
Southern France, with its pleasant climate, has been especially affected by this trend. According to Guide-piscine.fr, a website providing pool installation advice, French authorities receive 10 to 15 pool squatting reports each day during the summer months. The increasing frequency of these incidents highlights the difficulties faced by property owners in managing and securing their private swimming pools ever since the pool squatting trend has gone viral.