Dundee Leisure Trust fined £40,000

[ArabHibee]

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/dundee/Boy-drowned-in-39blind-spot39.5833060.jp


Following the hearing, Luke's mother said she had attracted "nasty comments" about her fitness as a parent following the death of her son – a boy who was "full of fun and laughter".

She said: "I sincerely hope that those persons will now become aware of the full facts surrounding Luke's death and are thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

"Their attitude has caused me tremendous anxiety during a time when I was grief-stricken. Their behaviour has resulted in me seeking a new life in another town."

:confused:

[Part/Time Supporter]

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/dundee/Boy-drowned-in-39blind-spot39.5833060.jp


Following the hearing, Luke's mother said she had attracted "nasty comments" about her fitness as a parent following the death of her son – a boy who was "full of fun and laughter".

She said: "I sincerely hope that those persons will now become aware of the full facts surrounding Luke's death and are thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

"Their attitude has caused me tremendous anxiety during a time when I was grief-stricken. Their behaviour has resulted in me seeking a new life in another town."

:confused:

Some folk would say she should have been watching her kid 24/7, similar to the criticism of the McCanns for going out for dinner and leaving their kids in the apartment.

[ArabHibee]

Some folk would say she should have been watching her kid 24/7, similar to the criticism of the McCanns for going out for dinner and leaving their kids in the apartment.

Don't get me wrong, this was an absolute tragedy and a terrible terrible accident.

But IMO the mother has to shoulder the majority of the blame here. She let's her son (who is a non-swimmer) go into a pool with 2 kids who he hardly knows, one of them also a non-swimmer, the other a 9 year old who wasn't a great swimmer.

May I also point out that the although the cafe at the leisure centre has windows that look into the pool, you are still a fair bit away from the pool and this is where she was sitting.

The people I feel sorry most for are the wee laddie (obviously) and the 9 year old lassie who is going to blame herself for the rest of her life for not looking after the lad, even though it wasn't really her job to do so.

[lyonhibs]

Surely I can't be the only one that read that 1st line with a bit of incredulity.

What was a 7 year old that couldn't swim doing in a wave pool, which are, by their very nature mostly pretty deep???

:confused:

[ArabHibee]

Surely I can't be the only one that read that 1st line with a bit of incredulity.

What was a 7 year old that couldn't swim doing in a wave pool, which are, by their very nature mostly pretty deep???

:confused:

There is no separate wave pool, it's just the normal pool which has a wave machine. A claxon sounds approximately a minute before the wave machine is switched on, to alert swimmers.

[lyonhibs]

There is no separate wave pool, it's just the normal pool which has a wave machine. A claxon sounds approximately a minute before the wave machine is switched on, to alert swimmers.

Ah ok.

But still, 7 year old that can't swim, presumably not wearing armbands, unsupervised, in a swimming pool?? :confused:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I think the mother should take some responsibility, in that the decision to let the lad swim was a joint one between her and the Olympia Pool. I am surprised that they let him in without adult supervision, I am surprised that she wasn't more careful herself.

[ArabHibee]

I think the mother should take some responsibility, in that the decision to let the lad swim was a joint one between her and the Olympia Pool. I am surprised that they let him in without adult supervision, I am surprised that she wasn't more careful herself.

I thought this as well, but who knows what she told the person in the ticket booth. Both the adults could have said they were going in with the kids and then not bothered.

[Phil D. Rolls]

I thought this as well, but who knows what she told the person in the ticket booth. Both the adults could have said they were going in with the kids and then not bothered.

When I was little, I can't recall any conditions about needing to go swimming with and adult. That said, there were a lot more kids drowned at pools then.

I even remember seeing a stretcher with a drowned man leaving the pool, at the same time as I was running to dive in. It wouldn't happen now, they'd shut the pool. In fact they shut the pool now if a kiddie does a number two - it's PC gone mad!