Pool rescue mum: ‘I thought my girl was dead’
THE parents of a young girl who had to be resuscitated during a swimming lesson have spoken of their ordeal.
Lexi Jackson, five, was pulled from the pool at Hyndburn Leisure Centre after she got into difficulties during a swimming lesson.
Her mother, Kaye Haughie, said it was only Lexi’s second lesson and the incident happened near the end of the session as the children were playing in the shallow end of the learner pool.
Kaye, 23, of Blackburn Road in Accrington, said: “They all jumped in and were playing - the teacher had thrown in some weights in the water for them to pick. I shouted to her to put her goggles on and she looked at me. I think she lost her footing and slipped onto her back and was struggling.”
Bosses at the Hyndburn Leisure Trust, which runs the swimming sessions, said there was one minute and ten seconds between the first child in the group re-entering the pool for a new activity, and Lexi being rescued by a lifeguard.
They said an off duty nurse who was at the poolside stepped in to assist pool staff giving Lexi CPR during the incident on Thursday, January 25.
Kaye, who is a stay-athome mum, said: “I thought my daughter was dead - I let out a massive scream and saw her eyes shut and her head go back. She was given five rounds of CPR before being taken to hospital.”
She said they are unhappy with the response and feel that Hyndburn Leisure have ‘swept the incident under the carpet’.
Kaye says a statement released by the Leisure Trust does not reflect the chaos and panic at the pool at the time.
She said: “I’m not blaming any one person or looking to get someone into trouble but I’ve paid for lessons and I expect my daughter to be safe.
“I honestly think that if they carry on lessons, there should be more lifeguards and teachers.”
Lexi’s father, Scott Jackson, received a call to inform him of what happened and rushed to hospital, where Lexi underwent X-rays for broken ribs and tests for brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
The pair also praised the actions of the nurse who administered the life- saving CPR at the poolside. Scott said: “It was very lucky that she was there.”
In their statement, Hyndburn Leisure Trust said: “A child got into difficulty in the learner pool during a swimming lesson and the team initiated a rescue. She was pulled to safety by a lifeguard. The pool alarm was sounded and more staff arrived to provide assistance. An ambulance was called immediately whilst staff performed CPR at pool side. During the rescue, a customer identified herself as an accident and emergency nurse and offered assistance with CPR, which of course we accepted. Staff continued to assist with CPR as well as safely evacuating the pool hall.
“The child was revived and was conscious when paramedics arrived.”
Lyndsey Sims, chief executive of Hyndburn Leisure, defended the statement made by the Trust. She said: “Our statement is a factual account of the events and we are continuing our investigation along with Hyndburn Council and the Health and Safety Executive.
“We know this is a major incident and we are treating it as such.”
Trust bosses said that an internal investigation is still ongoing alongside Hyndburn Council’s own inquiry.
Lancashire Police said following extensive enquiries, detectives were satisfied no criminal offences had taken place.
A Hyndburn Council spokesperson said: “Hyndburn Council is responsible for investigating this incident.
“The council has already begun the investigation, which is independent to the Leisure Centre’s internal investigation, and we cannot comment further until it is concluded.”