Swimming pool incident with child probed by safety watchdogs

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation into how a boy came to be unconscious at the bottom of an outdoor swimming pool.

On Thursday afternoon lifeguards and a member of the public dragged an 11-year-old boy unconscious from the bottom of Stonehaven Open Air Pool.

The child, a school pupil from Aberdeen, was resuscitated before being taken by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

He has since been transferred to a hospital in Edinburgh and no update has been given on his condition since Thursday but at the time it was said to be "serious".

A spokeswoman for the HSE said: “We can confirm we have now launched a formal investigation into the incident.”

She said she could not comment on how long the investigation may take.

It is unclear when the facility will reopen but a spokeswoman for the pool said it would remain closed on Monday.

A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “Aberdeenshire Council continues to investigate the circumstances of the incident at Stonehaven Open Air Pool on Thursday, June 28.

“The pool will remain closed pending the conclusion of that investigation.

“The indoor swimming pool at the nearby Stonehaven Leisure Centre was due to close today for the summer but will now remain open until further notice, to ensure that leisure facilities are still available for local people and visitors.”

The youngster was part of a group of 24 pupils from Aberdeen school Ferryhill Primary who were on an end-of-term trip to Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool.

Aberdeenshire Council provides the lifeguard staff at the pool but it is run in partnership with the Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool who maintain, upgrade, refurbish and decorate the facility voluntarily to ensure it can remain open.

The facility had been visited by a number of primary schools last week in their final week of term. Mill O’Forest pupils were there on Tuesday and Wednesday and Arduthie pupils had been scheduled to be there on Friday.

People who read this story also read