David Lloyd fined £2.5 million after toddler drowned in swimming pool
David Lloyd leisure centre is fined £2.5 million for health and safety failings after toddler, three, drowned in a swimming pool on day when only one part-time lifeguard, 17, was working
- Rocco Wright, three, was died after drowning at a David Lloyd Leisure centre
- An inquest heard only one lifeguard was on duty at the centre in Leeds in 2018
- The company was fined £2.5m today after admitting liability for Rocco’s death
The David Lloyd leisure chain was fined £2.5m today for health and safety failings after toddler drowned in one of its swimming pools.
Rocco Wright, three, was found face down at the bottom of the pool by his father Steven at a David Lloyd Leisure centre in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in April 2018.
The youngster was stood with his father and his sister at the pool while they tried to organise his sister’s swimming lesson. Mr Wright soon realised Rocco was no longer next to him and saw him at the bottom of the pool.
He was dragged out of the pool and efforts were made to revive the youngster but he was declared dead at Leeds General Infirmary the next day.
An inquest into the toddler’s death heard the only lifeguard on duty on the day Mr Wright and his children visited the club was a 17-year-old with less than three months experience in the job.
The David Lloyd leisure chain was fined £2.5m today after it admitted liability for the death of Rocco Wright (pictured), three, who drowned in one of its swimming pools
Rocco was found face down at the bottom of the pool by his father Steven at a David Lloyd Leisure centre (pictured) in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in April 2018
The prosecution was first brought against the company in November 2021, and an initial not-guilty plea was indicated, with a three-week trial expected to follow.
But the firm pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of a person.
In a hearing at Leeds Crown Court today, Judge Simon Phillips KC ordered the company to pay £2,550,000 and told them to pay £258,000 in legal costs.
Judge Phillips said the company failed to ‘respond to concerns’ by the workers themselves about the number of lifeguards working at any one time.
He also said that at the time of the tragedy, that period of the day was not regarded as a ‘peak time’, so the company did not employ more lifeguards.
The hearing also heard that lifeguards were not given proper breaks and were expected to carry out other jobs, such as testing the water and clearing away objects.
The glare from the sun also obstructed full views of the pool for the lifeguard.
Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive recommends that a 25-metre-long pool should have two lifeguards on duty.
Rocco was dragged out of the pool and efforts were made to revive the youngster but he was declared dead at Leeds General Infirmary the next day
He said: ‘David Lloyd Ltd failed to take practicable steps to eliminate or reduce the risk of drowning. Central to this tragedy is the grief of Rocco Wright’s family.
‘Anyone reading these statements supplied by Rocco Wright’s distraught parents, could not failed to be moved by the grief and suffering his drowning has occasioned.
‘The culpability is I find high.
‘David Lloyd Ltd fell far short of the standard, by failing to put in place the measures that are recognised standards in the industry and by ignoring concerns raised by employees.’
In a statement released by Rocco’s family following the hearing they paid tribute to their ‘little buddy’ who had an ‘infectious laugh.’
They said: ‘Our family continues to be devastated by the tragic loss of our son.
‘Rocco had an infectious laugh and a smile which lit up the room.
‘He was loved and adored by all his family. He had his whole life ahead of him, and we dearly miss our little ‘buddy’ every day.
‘Whilst David Lloyd have now finally filed a plea of guilty, accepting that it was their failings that led to Rocco’s death, we, as a family are extremely disappointed that this has taken over five years.
In a hearing at Leeds Crown Court today (pictured), Judge Simon Phillips KC ordered David Lloyd to pay £2,550,000 and told them to pay £258,000 in legal costs
‘David Lloyd have had numerous opportunities to submit an early plea but waited until what was less than two weeks prior to a lengthy trial.
‘This unnecessary delay has caused increased anxiety and prolonged misery and sadness across our entire family.
‘No family should have to endure the loss of a child through drowning, particularly in a supervised, private and exclusive leisure centre.’
David Lloyd Leisure Ltd’s CEO Russell Barnes said his ‘thoughts are with’ Rocco’s family and that he is ‘sorry for their loss.’
He said: ‘Today is another difficult day for Rocco’s family and our thoughts are with them.
‘We are sorry for their loss and wish to share our sympathy with Rocco’s family and loved ones.’
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