A children’s holiday camp company fined after 3-year-old almost drowned

A company that runs children’s holiday camps across the country has been fined £5,000 after three-year-old nearly drowned during a swimming pool free play session. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The incident occurred in a group of 19 children between the ages of three and five who were learning to swim, most of whom were non-swimmers, including the three-year-old. She had been fitted with two pairs of armbands and given a pool noddle prior to entering the pool but was found without these and trapped face down below a large pool float.

An investigation by the HSE found that the company’s documentation relating to pool safety and supervision, and that the information was not communicated to staff meaning that measures were not implemented or understood.