Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett died in May 2021 while on a school excursion at the Belfast Aquatic Centre in Port Fairy.The pool operator says it has improved procedures, staffing and training at the community facility.
Port Fairy Community Pool Management, which is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, was fined $80,000 for failing to test the swimming abilities of children before allowing them to use an inflatable aquatic device similar to a jumping castle. Judge Claire Quin said asking children for this information was "unreliable" as they were likely eager to get onto the inflatable course.
Later, a mother who was swimming with her child in the deep end saw Cooper floating underwater. She initially thought he was holding his breath but quickly realised something was wrong and yelled for help.The court heard a simple swimming test before allowing children to do a pool activity was considered industry practice.
Judge Quin said Cooper's father's victim impact statement revealed his difficulty dealing with the trauma. He frequently experiences sleepless nights and panic attacks.
Education Education Latest News, Education Education Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »