brockwell lido

[Janie@eurolanresearc]

At Brockwell Park Lido this morning I witnessed a little girl drowning or nearly drowning (she was taken to hospital unconscious and I don't know what happened to her after that) and wondered if anyone else was there to discuss this with me and help me to decide on the appropriate action to take regarding the appalling lack of any sort of training it appeared the 2 lifeguards had received. I had spent Monday and Tuesday at the lido and the pool (olympic sized) was packed with people all day. there were only two lifeguards at any one time, and during yesterday and the day before I didn't hear a whistle blown once. There were hoards of teenagers jumping, bombing on top of each others heads,diving, throwing each other in and running fast and throwing themselves and others in the pool. At the time of the incident I saw a young woman jump in the pool in front of me and pull out a little girl's lifeless body not more than a few yards away from the lifeguard, with the young woman shouting for the lifeguard to do something but she appeared not to have noticed anything going on, and then instead of putting out a tannoy message for a doctor or nurse no one did anything for several minutes with the little girl on her back until someone thought to put her on her side. It appeared no one knew what to do until the paramedics arrived. I spend a lot of time at pools and there are always rules about jumping and diving etc. in fact I think sometimes they're too strict but at Brockwell Park Lido there are no rules, which is lovely if you have enough lifeguards to look after everyone but two guards and no rules is ludicrous, I fear the little girl may have been jumped on or overcome by water when kids were bombing in the pool. I don't know what to do now but can't rest until I know that someone has done something to make the place safer.

[titch juicy]

This is horrendous. I guess the first step is to make the local councillor aware.

[joom]

I was there after the girl was taken away, very distressing. The place got more and more crowded and frantic and yet only two lifeguards... I really hope that girl is ok. You'd think after that incident and with so many people there would be at least four lifeguards on duty.

[nxjen]

This is shocking, perhaps get in touch with the relevant department at Lambeth Council to at least advise them there are safety concerns and the Fusion staff do not appear to have adequate training?

[binkylilyput]

Very serious indeed.

Yes, Brockwell Lido gets very busy and frantic. There would need to be adequate numbers of lifeguards who need to be well trained to manage such an emergency.

I would like to see this thread possibly moved to the main forum area to ensure that more forum users see it? Not least because there will be parents reading who might appreciate a heads up on safety if their children/ young people are visiting the lido.

[Janie@eurolanresearc]

Not sure how to move my post to the main forum area, never use forums, just knew that something must be done to avoid this happening again and thought this a good way of starting

[nxjen]

Perhaps do a cut and paste duplicate of your first post and post it in the Family Room? You'll probably reach more parents there.

[DulwichFox]

This is a serious incident and not an issue for just the Family Room. IMHO.

It is not an E.D. Issue but is of concern to all of us.

The Lounge is probably the best place for most people to see this post.

Not sure what the O.P. means by the main forum area..

The Moderators need to decide if this thread should be moved.

Let us concentrate on the subject matter of the thread and hope things turn out for the best.

DulwichFox

[Otta]

That does sound horrible. I can't find any news stories about this, which I hope means the girl is okay.

Definitely worth reporting this to Lambeth. I think the lido is a Fusion pool.

[DulwichFox]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That does sound horrible. I can't find any news

> stories about this, which I hope means the girl is

> okay.

>

>

> Definitely worth reporting this to Lambeth. I

> think the lido is a Fusion pool.

Nothing on Twitter. Which seems a little odd.

DulwichFox

[Angelina]

This is not a one off. Last year my daughter struggled in the water as somepne was blocking her getting to the edge. She was with a friend who saw her and helped her. This was right under the guard's nose/

I reported it to the manager. I didn't follow up to see what she did, but had noticed the guards better monitoring since.

I also hope the girl is ok.

[Saffron]

Thinking to post this in the Family Room, if similar not posted already... "Drowing Doesn't Look Like Drowing". It's heartaching to understand how easily and quietly someone can drown. Please read and make others aware. I've even had life guard training (a long time ago), and I don't think this was emphasised enough, and also "secondary drowing". I hope the little girl is ok. xx http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7655098.html

[Saffron]

If you were a witness, or have previously had problems, you should report it to the local council's heath & safety authority. If you don't receive a response, or if you feel the response is inadequate, report it directly to the HSE. xx

[alice]

looks like the child is ok.

 Brockwell Lido Users Retweeted

Kim Hill ‏@kimbolondontown ? 10h10 hours ago

@Brockwell_Lido @BrockwellLido Just wanted to say thought you guys handled the incident this morning really well - was really impressed

[Pugwash]

My grand daughter (17) was fed up with her local swimming pool being closed due to shortage of life guards and has been accepted on a Life Guard training programme. It is from 10- 4 pm daily and includes first aid. It is understood that there is a general shortage of trained life guards in London and elsewhere and although the course costs ?300 she hopefully will emerge as a qualified Life Guard and able to take up posts anywhere in the country.

I thought Brockwell Lido was run by an independent company? Was the injured child in the water with an adult or much older child? Some swim venues insist that under 11s must be accompanied in the pool by an adult or over 16.

[bodsier]

Poor child I hope she is ok.Lambeth like many councils make cut backs and don't pay staff enough to do the job. Might be why there are so few lifeguards there. It is hard to believe that such a heavily populated pool could have so few lifeguards at any one time. A majority of them seem quite young, cheaper wages, lesz experienced. Though I would question why they did nothing. Is there sufficient drilling? Might explain why they seemingly didn't know What to do.........

[curlylocks]

Looks like the little girl is ok, thank goodness.

Janie, I think definitely worth reporting - perhaps initially to Fusion & depending on their response to Lambeth Council, HSE, other regulatory bodies if any, local councillors / MP.

Sounds very upsetting & concerning....

[Seabag]

I'm glad the child was ok, but it's only a matter of time before something happens there again. The place has lost control and the top right end has become a haven for secret drinkers and dope smokers. And after 15 years of going as a family we've abandoned going there all together and now make the trip to Charlton instead.

I get having a laugh, shoving your mates in the pool (when the guard isn't looking) bit, we all did it. But here it's all a bit menacing now.

[ed_pete]

Before everyone jumps on the Lido bashing bandwagon, has anyone seen an objective account of what actually happened or are we all to make our conclusions based in one eye witness account. And before anyone reports the Lido to anyone do you not think that you should ask them first what they have done in response to the incident ?

[snowy]

Seabag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm glad the child was ok, but it's only a matter

> of time before something happens there again. The

> place has lost control and the top right end has

> become a haven for secret drinkers and dope

> smokers. And after 15 years of going as a family

> we've abandoned going there all together and now

> make the trip to Charlton instead.

>

> I get having a laugh, shoving your mates in the

> pool (when the guard isn't looking) bit, we all

> did it. But here it's all a bit menacing now.

I'm very glad the child's ok too - but as a regular to that top end corner; I'd quibble that it's a den of vice! It's much tidied up when compared to the days when Casey ran it - there's a clamp down on sneaky cans / and the smoking rule (ie. stand by the staff office) is applied even when the place is empty. It used to be the naked corner - I'm not sure that would be allowed nowadays.

The downside with it being run by fusion, is that it's run by fusion - the gym & spa are closed again today. The pool will close at 5.45 as they're showing a film tonight. Hottest days of the year - and it won't be dark enough to screen a film until 9.30 ish.

[NewWave]

snowy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seabag Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I'm glad the child was ok, but it's only a

> matter

> > of time before something happens there again.

> The

> > place has lost control and the top right end

> has

> > become a haven for secret drinkers and dope

> > smokers. And after 15 years of going as a

> family

> > we've abandoned going there all together and

> now

> > make the trip to Charlton instead.

> >

> > I get having a laugh, shoving your mates in the

> > pool (when the guard isn't looking) bit, we all

> > did it. But here it's all a bit menacing now.

>

> I'm very glad the child's ok too - but as a

> regular to that top end corner; I'd quibble that

> it's a den of vice! It's much tidied up when

> compared to the days when Casey ran it - there's a

> clamp down on sneaky cans / and the smoking rule

> (ie. stand by the staff office) is applied even

> when the place is empty. It used to be the naked

> corner - I'm not sure that would be allowed

> nowadays.

>

> The downside with it being run by fusion, is that

> it's run by fusion - the gym & spa are closed

> again today. The pool will close at 5.45 as

> they're showing a film tonight. Hottest days of

> the year - and it won't be dark enough to screen a

> film until 9.30 ish.

I agree that Fusion are pretty rubbish at running pools and Leisure centres.

I am an adult but have only just learned to swim (aged 55) and am very nervous when out of my depth and when theres kids jumping in the water in a boystrous manner (I mean teenagers-not little ones)

I used to go to Forest Hill pool but gave up because there were always teens leaping into the water and ducking and pushing each other in and it made me nervous swimming by them-I'm not a good enough swimmer to go in the Fast lane so need to use the general swim lane.

There used to be one superb lifeguard who would walk round the pool, tell kids off if they were behaving badly and generally keep an eye on things.

He's now left and in his place are bored teenagers who don't seem to watch whats going on and seem more intent on having a laugh with each other than monitoring the safety of the pool users.

I now no longer go there.

[Passiflora]

I hope the little girl is ok.

Brockwell lido brings back good and bad memories for me as my dad had enjoyed good days (have a photo of him at Brockwell in the 50s) but one summer day I remember he took me and my sisters to Brockwell lido and I had to fight to get to the surface of the water as a big lout had jumped on top of me! I can still remember the moment of panic and trying to get to the surface of the water. Previous to this we had a good time learning how to swim there. After that episode I became very nervous about swimming in general and even now I'm a cautious swimmer.

[Seabag]

BBC London have been reporting on this, but despite repeated questions and calls, the managagement have yet to reply

Not very 'on message' for a public service management team to not comment, or to assure people the child is ok

Pretty crap really

[miga]

Fusion innit...

[rendelharris]

Seabag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> BBC London have been reporting on this, but

> despite repeated questions and calls, the

> managagement have yet to reply

>

> Not very 'on message' for a public service

> management team to not comment, or to assure

> people the child is ok

>

> Pretty crap really

Well, on the Twitter feed linked above they did say the girl is OK and that they can't discuss it further until they have investigated.