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School fined £27,000 after child is found unconscious in swimming pool (16 September 2016)

Date: 16/09/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, School fined £27,000 after child is found unconscious in swimming pool

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.

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