Two foreign nationals died and two others were injured after a suspected electrical leak at a luxury hotel swimming pool in Bengaluru, India, raising serious questions about safety standards and oversight at international hospitality facilities.

Fatal Incident at Conrad Hotel

The tragedy unfolded Friday evening, October 30, at the Conrad Bengaluru in the Halasuru neighborhood. Police identified the victims as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, a 57-year-old German national who worked as a Lufthansa crew member, and Juraj Horvat, a 45-year-old Slovak national employed as a project manager for IBM. Both men were guests at the hotel when the incident occurred.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said investigators suspected an electrical leak caused the deaths but were awaiting medical, technical, and expert reports to confirm the exact cause. Officials immediately cordoned off the pool area for a comprehensive investigation. Technical teams began examining the pool’s pump system, underwater lighting, and grounding lines to identify the source of the electrical fault.

Shiv Aroor

@ShivAroor

BREAKING: A German & A Slovak national have died of electrocution in the swimming pool at Bengaluru’s Conrad Hotel. US guest & Indian pool attendant injured attempting rescue, safe, @dpkBopanna reports on NDTV. (file photo)

4:39 AM · Oct 31, 2026

Rescue Attempt Injures Two Others

Two people sustained injuries while attempting to rescue the victims. Mathew Desantis, a 41-year-old American guest, and Rahul Tiwari, a 28-year-old pool attendant and lifeguard, were both hospitalized after trying to help. Four people total were transported to Manipal Hospital following the incident. Medical staff pronounced Theiss deceased upon arrival, while doctors attempted to revive Horvat before he died. Both Desantis and Tiwari were reported in stable condition, with Desantis experiencing headache and shock symptoms.

According to a police complaint filed by Theiss’ wife, the men were electrocuted while attempting to exit the pool and subsequently drowned. Preliminary inspections focused on the underwater lighting system as the most likely source of the electrical malfunction that proved fatal.

Corporate Response and Investigation

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, which owns Conrad Hotels and Resorts, released a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragedy and offering condolences to those impacted. The company pledged full cooperation with local authorities and said their team remained available to provide all appropriate assistance. The hotel’s website listed the pool as closed for maintenance from October 31 through November 30, though officials have not confirmed whether this closure directly relates to the incident.

Lufthansa confirmed the death of their crew member in a statement, extending sympathies to the family while declining to provide additional details out of respect for privacy. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about electrical safety protocols at international hotels and the risks posed by improperly maintained pool equipment and lighting systems.