Pool death family call for inquiry
THE parents of a seven-year-old girl who died after an incident at a leisure centre are angry about the way the investigation into her death is being handled.
Michelle Gellard, of Seyssel Street on the Isle of Dogs, died in June shortly after she was pulled from the swimming pool at Blackwater Leisure Centre in Maldon, Essex.
Her parents are upset the Health and Safety Executive has asked Maldon District Council to investigate its contractors, Leisure Connections Limited, as they believe this represents a conflict of interests.
Peter Todd, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors, which is representing the family, said: “Michelle’s parents want a full and independent investigation into this incident carried out.
“How can Maldon District Council conduct a proper investigation if it also may have contributed to what has happened here?�
Mr Todd has appealed to the HSE to change its decision and said if it refused, the parents might seek a judicial review.
The incident happened after Michelle had taken part in a judo competition at the leisure centre.
Her parents, Mark Gellard and Sian Lakey are also seeking damages from the leisure centre because of the way it handled the incident on June 14.
They have released recorded emergency tapes to support their case.
One includes a staff member telling the operator Michelle was ‘OK’ even though it is widely accepted Michelle never regained consciousness after being pulled out of the water, Mr Todd believes this delayed the ambulance by between 15 and 30 minutes.
On the tape, the staff member told the operator: “I’ve just been told by someone who’s seen her that she’s OK now.�
She then added Michelle had regained consciousness.
A later call revealed the leisure centre did not have a defibrillator or anyone who was qualified to treat young children.
Michelle’s father Mark said: “We want to know why the lifeguards at the pool appeared not to have noticed that Michelle was drowning.
“We also want to know why the staff at the leisure centre failed to report in the first emergency call that it was a drowning incident and said Michelle was ‘OK’.
“As a result help was delayed which may have lost the chance to save her life. It is essential that lessons are learned.�
The council said it had asked the HSE whether it should be investigating its own contractor and was given the all clear to continue with the investigation by the executive.
A statement from Leisure Connections said: “The family's claim has been received and has been passed to our lawyers.
“We have no further comments to make at this stage.�
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