Tragic Drowning of 5-Year-Old Olof in Neighbor's Pool in Boden

The parents share their grief after Olof, 5, was found lifeless in a neighbor's pool in Boden. They now share their sorrow and memories of their son.

It was on Tuesday when Olof was sitting in the kitchen playing on his mobile. Suddenly, his father Björn noticed that Olof was gone.

– The door was ajar, and he had slipped out. I thought he had gone to the playground we usually visit, says Björn.

But Olof wasn't there, and shortly after, Björn heard two ambulances with sirens on.

– The police asked me if I was the father. They took me aside and said that Olof had been in an accident, Björn recounts.

Olof had made his way to the neighbor's – and was found lifeless in a pool. In the neighbor's garden, ambulance personnel performed CPR on Olof.

He was neither conscious nor able to speak when he arrived at the hospital, but his heart was beating.

During the night, Olof was declared dead.

– It's the worst thing I've ever experienced, says Alma.

Remembering His Curiosity and Joy

The parents remember Olof as a happy and lively boy.

– He loved to sneak cookies and chips from the kitchen when you turned your back. What we will carry with us is his curiosity and joy.

The time after the accident has been tough, and the grief is immense. All the parents can think about is Olof and what happened, they say.

– You constantly think about what you could have done differently. But it doesn't help to have those thoughts, it was an accident, says Björn.

“Hug Your Children”

The neighbor who found Olof tells Aftonbladet, which first reported on the drowning accident, that it was her "worst moment in life."

– Now it's just about trying to find a way to move on. But right now, we are all in great shock and sorrow. We think a lot about the boy's family, she tells the newspaper.

As soon as the police were done at the scene, they took the pool to the dump – they didn't want to keep it.

Alma and Björn say it will take time to process the grief after Olof, but many are showing support around them.

– Hug your children a lot. And talk to your children about the risks of drowning and swimming alone. Children are quick, and it happens so fast, says Björn.