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HSE probe tot's 'near drowning' in city pool

Ben Murch
30/ 1/2003

THE HEALTH and Safety Executive is investigating claims a young girl was left to drown by lifeguards at a Salford swimming pool.

Hayley Sharples, aged 28, of Irlams o'th' Height, claims her cries for help went ignored when her four-year-old daughter, Phoebe, fell face down in the water and stopped breathing at a school pool party at Fit City Clarendon last week.

She claims she had to plunge into the waist-deep training pool to rescue her non-swimming daughter when lifeguards failed to respond, then revive the near-drowned girl herself despite having no first aid training.

She later took Phoebe to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury, where she says the girl was diagnosed with a 'near drowning'.

Hayley said: "First of all, because I'm her mum, I blame myself. But I just can't believe nobody from the baths intervened.

"I just took it for granted they would. But I was told later by an area manager that lifeguards only jump in the water as a final resort - they even have a policy which advises them not to."

Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive and Salford Council have been launched. Cllr Eddie Sheehy, lead member for Arts and Leisure, said: "I'm most concerned that this poor child got into the situation she did. There is another side to this and we'll be making sure it's heard. Salford's record in all of these things is very good, but accidents do occur."

He added that parents are expected to take responsibility for their own children at pool parties and denied there was a no-rescue policy.