The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted St Edmunds School Canterbury for safety failings, after a seven-year-old boy nearly drowned while on a summer camp with the school.
The court heard that the seven-year-old pupil was at a summer activity camp run by St Edmunds School – but while taking part in a scheduled swim, he got into difficulties and struggled for over three minutes before becoming motionless in the water.
The lifeguards noticed he was in trouble and retrieved him. The child regained consciousness after CPR, but developed pneumonitis as a result of the incident.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident on 1 August 2014 found that the lifeguards were not effectively managed and monitored to ensure that they were constantly vigilant.
HSE inspectors also found that two out of the three lifeguards did not hold a current, up-to-date lifeguard qualification.
At Canterbury Crown Court, St Edmunds School Canterbury of St Thomas Hill in Canterbury, Kent pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The school was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,669.19.
Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Children’s Injury and Accident Claims
Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise parents and guardians whose children have suffered injury as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims involving:
• Animal attacks (eg petting zoos, riding schools)
• Birth injuries
• Criminal injuries compensation
• Dog bite claims
• Falls from height
• Faulty goods claims (eg toys, baby products)
• Medical negligence
• Holiday accidents
• Road traffic accidents
• School accidents
• Sports accidents
• Swimming pool accidents.
Children are able to claim compensation up to the age of 21 – parents and guardians are also to act as a child’s “litigation friend” to help them make a claim before the age of 21.
Duncan Lewis will guide claimants through the claims process and will negotiate on behalf of the claimant – and can also advise on rehabilitation, interim payments, access to welfare benefits and adaptations to the home, if needed.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Children’s Injury and Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.