Polish Prosecutors File Indictment Against Two Men After 15-Year-Old Scout Drowns

Polish prosecutors filed an indictment against two men in connection with the drowning death of 15-year-old Dominik M. during a night scouting test at Lake Ośno near the village of Wilcze in Greater Poland, the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań announced on April 2, 2026. The indictment, sent to the District Court in Wolsztyn on March 30, charges 21-year-old educator and troop leader Marek G. and 19-year-old WOPR lifeguard Igor K. with involuntary manslaughter and exposing a person to the direct danger of loss of life or serious bodily harm. The boy drowned on the night of July 23 to 24, 2025, while attempting to earn the scouting rank of ćwik by swimming 500 meters across the lake at night in full uniform and boots. Both defendants face a prison sentence of between three months and five years.

Boy swam alone in fog, boat had no oars According to the findings of the investigation, Dominik M. entered the water around 1:00 AM and was observed from the pier by the troop leader and the lifeguard using only the light of a headlamp he wore. Prosecutor Magdalena Kasprzak, head of the Wolsztyn prosecutor's office, stated that the headlamp did not properly fulfill its function because fog had settled over the lake at the time. The boy had no buoy and no rope connecting him to the people on the pier who were supposed to assist him if needed. The boat available to the two men did not have oars. „The accused did not provide proper safety measures for the 15-year-old. Certain steps were taken on their part, but they were obviously insufficient and unplanned” — Magdalena Kasprzak via TVN24 Only after hearing disturbing sounds from the water did Marek G. and Igor K. begin swimming toward the boy, but they had difficulty reaching him and locating the spot where he went under. Firefighters from Wolsztyn, Kościan, and Poznań were involved in the search, and the boy's body was recovered from the shore at approximately 5:30 AM, according to reporting by Głos Wielkopolski and NIEZALEZNA.PL.

Marek G. admitted safety failures; Igor K. denied guilt Prosecutor Łukasz Wawrzyniak, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań, said Marek G. initially did not plead guilty and refused to provide explanations, but later in the investigation admitted that he had not ensured proper safety for the victim. Marek G. also told investigators that he had informed Igor K. about what the test was supposed to involve. Igor K. confirmed his participation in the events of that night but did not plead guilty to the charges. „The first of the accused, Marek G., admitted that he failed to provide proper care to the victim. The second of the accused, Igor K., indicated that he participated in the event but did not plead guilty. Both men expressed regret and remorse.” — Łukasz Wawrzyniak via Radio Wrocław Kasprzak noted that while the accused did not dispute their participation in the incident, there were certain discrepancies in their accounts. Neither man had a prior criminal record, according to the prosecutor's office. 500 (meters) — distance Dominik was required to swim at night for the rank test

Parents forgave the accused; camp was organized by ZHR Lower Silesian District Dominik M. was a student at the II High School in Świdnica and participated in a summer camp organized by the Lower Silesian District of the Scouting Association of the Republic. Both defendants expressed remorse to investigators and, according to the prosecutor's office, sought and received forgiveness from the victim's parents. Kasprzak confirmed that the accused had apologized to the family and reconciled with them. The case drew widespread attention across Poland following the boy's death in the summer of 2025. The indictment now moves to the District Court in Wolsztyn, where the two men will stand trial.

Lake Ośno is located in Wolsztyn County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. The ZHR was founded on February 12, 1989, by scout instructors from across Poland as an independent national scouting organization operating outside the structures of the communist-era Polish People's Republic. The rank of ćwik is one of the higher scout ranks in the Polish scouting system, requiring candidates to complete demanding practical tests. Polish law enforcement indicated at the initial stage of the investigation that basic safety rules had not been maintained during the night test.