HC Deb 09 November 1970 vol 806 cc42-3W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the deaths which occurred in public swimming baths and pools in England and Wales in 1969; and what steps have been taken to improve safety measures as a result.

Mr. Alison

Details, so far as known, of the deaths referred to in the reply given on 28th October 1970, to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Greville Janner) are given below.

I am advised that safety in public swimming baths is the responsibility of local authorities but advice in general terms on the design of pools has been published by the Government and further advice if requested is available in the Department for the Environment.

Deaths stated or presumed to have occurred in public swimming pools or baths—continued:—
Sex Age Details of accident so far as known
Male … 11 years … Drowning in swimming baths, vagal inhibition on inhalation of water.
Male … 12 years … Drowning in swimming baths.
Male … 8 years … Drowning in public swimming bath—jumped off diving board.
Male … 14 years … Drowning in public swimming baths.
Female … 9 years … Drowning—unable to swim, fell in deep end.
Female … 15 years … Drowning (swimming baths) due to cardiac arrhythmia (induced by exercise).
Female … 15 months … Fell into swimming pool, drowned.
Female … 2 years … Shock—accidentally fell into swimming pool.
Male … 19 years … Aspiration of stomach contents while swimming (swimming baths).
Male … 20 years … Found at bottom of swimming baths, drowned.
Male … 30 years … Drowned while bathing in an indoor swimming pool (Holiday Camp).
Male … 29 years … Drowned while swimming in a swimming pool (Holiday Camp).
Male … 17 years … Asphyxia due to immersion in water (outdoor swimming pool) (Holiday Camp).
Male … 60 years … Drowning, collapsed while swimming (public swimming baths).
Male … 21 years … Drowning (Holiday Camp).
Male … 25 years … Dived into swimming pool and did not reappear.
Male … 19 years … Drowned whilst swimming.
Male … 21 years … Drowning, out of depth in swimming pool.
Male … 19 years … Drowning in swimming pool.
Male … 17 years … Drowning—found collapsed in swimming pool.
Male … 58 years … Drowned in public swimming baths.
Male … 20 years … Drowned whilst swimming in public swimming baths.
Male … 65 years … Drowning in swimming pool.
Male … 16 years … Drowning, found at bottom of swimming pool.
Male … 20 years … Prolonged submersion, swimming pool.
Male … 62 years … Found drowned in an outdoor swimming pool (open verdict).
Male … 64 years … Found submerged in a swimming pool (open verdict).
Female … 36 years … Drowned in Serpentine when she fell off an inflatable raft.
Male … 40 years … Drowning, swimming in the Serpentine.
Deaths stated to have occurred in school or college swimming pools:—
Sex Age Details of accident so far as known
Male … 49 years … Drowning, inhalation of vomit, whilst bathing in swimming pool at school.
Female … 12 years … Drowning, got into difficulty in swimming pool at school.
Female … 8 years … Drowning, school swimming pool.
Male … 14 years … Drowned in college swimming pool (swimming party).
Death stated to have occurred in a hotel swimming pool:—
Sex Age Details of accident so far as known
Male … 3 years … Drowning, fell into hotel swimming pool.
TOTAL: 45 deaths.
—[Vol. 805 c. 152]