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| Firm fined £150k over pool injury | Firm fined £150k over pool injury |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A caravan park company has been fined £150,000 after a seven-year-old boy suffered brain injuries in a swimming pool not properly manned by lifeguards. | A caravan park company has been fined £150,000 after a seven-year-old boy suffered brain injuries in a swimming pool not properly manned by lifeguards. |
| Chad Mole, seven, from Halesowen, near Birmingham, was found in the jacuzzi-style "bubble lounger" at the Trecco Bay in Porthcawl, Bridgend county. | Chad Mole, seven, from Halesowen, near Birmingham, was found in the jacuzzi-style "bubble lounger" at the Trecco Bay in Porthcawl, Bridgend county. |
| Chad was revived but oxygen starvation left him severely disabled. | Chad was revived but oxygen starvation left him severely disabled. |
| Upper Bay Ltd had denied failing to safeguard him in October 2005, but was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court. | Upper Bay Ltd had denied failing to safeguard him in October 2005, but was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| The court heard that Chad suffered "catastrophic brain injuries" and will never recover. | The court heard that Chad suffered "catastrophic brain injuries" and will never recover. |
| Upper Bay Ltd was convicted by a jury in June of failing to ensure Chad was not exposed to risks to his health and safety. | Upper Bay Ltd was convicted by a jury in June of failing to ensure Chad was not exposed to risks to his health and safety. |
| There was no system where people would react properly when they saw a young boy in a dangerous part of the pool Ian Pringle QC, prosecuting | There was no system where people would react properly when they saw a young boy in a dangerous part of the pool Ian Pringle QC, prosecuting |
| Judge Stephen Hopkins QC also told the company to pay costs of £182,500. | Judge Stephen Hopkins QC also told the company to pay costs of £182,500. |
| Ian Pringle QC, prosecuting, said: "His father Brian was in the pool with both his young sons at Splashland on the caravan park when Chad wandered off. | Ian Pringle QC, prosecuting, said: "His father Brian was in the pool with both his young sons at Splashland on the caravan park when Chad wandered off. |
| "He found his way to the pool's bubble lounger, a jacuzzi-type area near the deep end. Another holidaymaker found Chad underneath the surface. | "He found his way to the pool's bubble lounger, a jacuzzi-type area near the deep end. Another holidaymaker found Chad underneath the surface. |
| "He scooped him out of the water and shouted for help. Chad was limp and his lips were blue." | "He scooped him out of the water and shouted for help. Chad was limp and his lips were blue." |
| The court heard a lifeguard should have been on a high chair overlooking the pool and another lifeguard patrolling. | The court heard a lifeguard should have been on a high chair overlooking the pool and another lifeguard patrolling. |
| Mr Pringle said: "This accident was caused by the company not having a proper system of work. | Mr Pringle said: "This accident was caused by the company not having a proper system of work. |
| "They did not have sufficient lifeguards on duty. | "They did not have sufficient lifeguards on duty. |
| Non-swimmers | Non-swimmers |
| "There was no system where people would react properly when they saw a young boy in a dangerous part of the pool." | "There was no system where people would react properly when they saw a young boy in a dangerous part of the pool." |
| Chad and his four-year-old brother JJ were both non-swimmers, neither had buoyancy aids and there was a sign saying children under eight should be accompanied by an adult. | Chad and his four-year-old brother JJ were both non-swimmers, neither had buoyancy aids and there was a sign saying children under eight should be accompanied by an adult. |
| The court heard that a lifeguard at the pool saw Chad alone and told him to go back to his father, but failed to ensure he went. | The court heard that a lifeguard at the pool saw Chad alone and told him to go back to his father, but failed to ensure he went. |
| Mr Pringle added: "There was a total lack of care in ensuring that this young boy didn't have a risk of drowning. | Mr Pringle added: "There was a total lack of care in ensuring that this young boy didn't have a risk of drowning. |
| "To compound it all, even when he was spotted he was told to go back to his dad and nothing was done. | "To compound it all, even when he was spotted he was told to go back to his dad and nothing was done. |
| "It was wholly, wholly inadequate that there was no lifeguard on duty on a high chair and no lifeguard patrolling up and down by the bubble lounger." | "It was wholly, wholly inadequate that there was no lifeguard on duty on a high chair and no lifeguard patrolling up and down by the bubble lounger." |
| Judge Hopkins said: "The boy suffered catastrophic brain damage. | Judge Hopkins said: "The boy suffered catastrophic brain damage. |
| "The company breached its own safety police by failing to have sufficient lifeguards on duty. | "The company breached its own safety police by failing to have sufficient lifeguards on duty. |
| "Nobody was supervising the deep end of the pool at that time. | "Nobody was supervising the deep end of the pool at that time. |
| "The fact that there were so few people in the water may have been a factor in the lifeguards failing to properly supervise the deep end of the pool." | "The fact that there were so few people in the water may have been a factor in the lifeguards failing to properly supervise the deep end of the pool." |
| An Upper Bay Ltd spokesman said after the firm was convicted that "the tragic accident has deeply affected and saddened everyone at Trecco Bay". | An Upper Bay Ltd spokesman said after the firm was convicted that "the tragic accident has deeply affected and saddened everyone at Trecco Bay". |
| The company added: "We have always provided the necessary resources and regular training to ensure all staff can carry out their duties competently, professionally and above all to ensure the safety of both our customers and staff. | The company added: "We have always provided the necessary resources and regular training to ensure all staff can carry out their duties competently, professionally and above all to ensure the safety of both our customers and staff. |
| "We have also maintained that we have the highest safety standards to ensure the 175,000 annual users of the pool can enjoy swimming in a safe and secure environment." | "We have also maintained that we have the highest safety standards to ensure the 175,000 annual users of the pool can enjoy swimming in a safe and secure environment." |