Ekaterina Didenko’s birthday party ended in tragedy after dry ice was added to the swimming pool (Picture: east2west/Getty)

Three people were killed and seven rushed to hospital after dry ice was thrown into a swimming pool during a blogger’s party in Russia.

The victims were unable to breathe and some were also left with chemical burns.

The party was for well-known blogger Ekaterina Didenko, who was celebrating her 29th birthday.

Her husband Valentin Didenko, 32, was among three fatalities after he unloaded 25 kg of dry ice to create a dramatic ‘visual effect’ intended to impress guests at the party held in a Moscow pool and sauna complex.


He died after being rushed to hospital.

Party-goers Natalia Monakova and Yuri Alferov, both 25, were confirmed dead at the scene.



It is believed the three were in the pool when the dry ice was released.

The moment the dry ice was released into the pool by a person in a hazard suit (Picture: east2west news)

Ekaterina Didenko telling about the death of her husband (Picture: east2west news)

Ekaterina with husband Valentin, who died in the accident alongside two other friends (Picture: east2west news)

Mother-of-two, Ms Didenko, is a popular Instagram blogger with one million people following her account, which gives advice on medicines for home use.

A highly qualified pharmacist, she offers tips on keeping home medicine cupboards leaner and more effective while also sharing intimate moments of her own life.

She took to social media after the accident, saying: ‘Valya is not with us anymore.

‘Or Natalia. Or Yuri.

‘I did not cry yesterday. Today I just exploded.

‘I thought it was not true, it was a nightmare.’

She added that she had signed a document to stop her disclosing any more information.

The dry ice in the pool in Moscow (Picture: east2west news)

Natalia Monakova died at the scene (Picture: east2west news)

An outside view of the Devyaty Val bathing centre, where people suffered breathing problems and chemical burns during a birthday party for Instagram blogger Ekaterina Didenko (Picture: Getty)

Emergency workers at the scene (Picture: east2west news)

Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and produces heavy vapour when put into water.

The vapour can cause high levels of carbon dioxide in blood when released in a poorly ventilated space.

But one expert questioned whether this was normal dry ice or contained ‘another substance’ which worsened the poisoning.

Valentin had wanted the dry ice ‘to create an impressive steam show’ as party guests jumped into the pool.

But as soon as the ice was poured, people started fainting.

Moments earlier guests had been laughing and clinking glasses.

The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed a criminal case was opened into causing death by negligence.

Local media cited a preliminary report that gave the cause of death as ‘mechanical asphyxia’ because of blocked airways.

Two people have been discharged from hospital but the other five remain and their condition is unknown.