Bride left with ‘horrific’ injuries after infinity pool at Sandals Royal Curacao collapses

A newlywed couple ‘couldn’t breathe’ after the infinity pool in their luxurious Caribbean hotel collapsed suddenly, causing them to be swept out to sea.

Jelizaveta and Gavin Jones, from Colindale, London, were on their £11,000 honeymoon at the five-star Sandals Royal Curaçao hotel when the pool gave way causing them to be submerged under tonnes of water.

Police in Curaçao said at least 12 people were hurt, including the bride who was left with ‘horrific injuries’, after the walls of the sea-facing pool collapsed on Thursday.

Mrs Jones, 29, who works as a sales executive for a US software company, told the Evening Standard: ‘It was horrible, there was no warning.

‘I was facing my husband, talking to him in the pool. Then I saw him go under first, then maybe five seconds later, I went. I was stuck beneath the water.

‘I couldn’t think, I couldn’t breathe. It was all happening very quickly.

‘I was trying to get up to the surface for some air, but the current was too strong. I couldn’t do anything.’

At the time of the collapse, 20 holiday-goers were in the two-levelled swimming pool.

Some of the tourists who had been washed down the beach by the torrent of water had to be taken by ambulance to hospital.

A female tourist had become trapped under one glass panel but regained consciousness after being pulled out of the water.

Mr and Mrs Jones had only been at the luxurious resort less than a day when the accident occurred.

The bride, who also goes by the name Elizabeth, added: ‘After I was washed away, I staggered up to my feet, limping with blood coming out of my head and leg – horrific. Every time I close my eyes, I relive it.’

According to local media, Curaçao police said after their initial investigation that it seemed as though the glass broke because too many people were in the pool during a party. 

Mr Jones, 44, who is a bar and nightclub owner said: ‘We’d only been in the resort less than 24 hours and were having a few drinks.

‘I was stood with my back to the sea chatting to my wife when one of the panels in the middle of the pool just disappeared.

‘The weight of the water took me, Elizabeth and a lot of other people and washed us about 30 yards down the beach.’

The brand-new hotel had only opened in June, with one of its main selling points being the bi-level infinity pool which offered views of both the mountains that surround the Santa Barbara reserve as well as the ocean. 

The groom added: ‘I banged my head as I went back and slipped over.

‘I looked at my wife and she was dazed. Blood was pouring out of her head.

‘She sustained cuts and had to have stitches.’

The couple said the hotel staff were very caring during the aftermath but claimed that the hotel’s management had been ‘truly atrocious’.

Other tourists complained that the firm had tried to play down the incident by stating the pool had ‘experienced an issue’.

Mr Jones was told by the company that ‘accidents do happen’ and was offered a credit note for a future stay.

The couple had married last August but could not take a honeymoon due to Covid and a family illness.

A spokesperson for Sandals Resorts International said: ‘Thankfully, there were only a small number of guests in the pool at the time. 

‘Our resort team worked quickly to ensure all were provided with immediate support and medical attention, including an evaluation by local medical professionals and treatment for any guest who required it. 

‘There is nothing more important to Sandals Resorts than the safety of our guests and we remain in contact with guests affected should there be any further support required.’

The pool continues to remain closed at the resort for repairs.