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Is it normal to be deathly afraid of the circular pool drains? I'm not sure why, but ever since I could remember I've been terrified of them. If I'm swimming in a pool i will look for them and actively avoid that area. If i find myself near one I will freak out and try to get away as fast as possible.
There was a story in the news out some kid getting her colon sucked out by one of those things, or something in the pool like that.
It's not an irrational fear.
The official statistics of the USA Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that between 1999 and 2009 there were 11 deaths and 69 injuries involving suction equipment in swimming pools. The actual number could be significantly higher, since police and autopsy reports don't always specify the underlying cause of death by drowning.
Having said that, it's virtually impossible for someone to be sucked down onto the grille. In order for that to happen, the filtration system's pump would have to be incredibly powerful. Problems happen when people are messing around and put parts of their body right on the grille. Then a combination of the suction, the smoothness of the pool's bottom making it very difficult to pull or push yourself away and panic can be fatal.
When I was younger, yes. I was also petrified of the ends of makers for lanes. They reminded me of sharks and I’d be so scared swimming towards the wall.