The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Shock as boy injures leg on glass in paddling pool
Leisure: Three-year-old’ s cooling off fun cut short at Bellfield Park attraction
Cleaning procedures have been stepped up at an Inverness facility after a child suffered a gashed knee in the paddling pool.
The incident happened in Bellfield Park on Wednesday as the threeyear-old and his mum, who are not being identified, were at the pool enjoying the soaring summer temperatures.
The boy was taken to the accident and emergency department at Raigmore hospital where his wound was treated.
In an online statement, Bellfield Park staff said that after the incident they initiated emergency procedures, closing the pool, locking the gate and draining the pool.
On social media, they said: “We have now swept, hoovered and washed the empty pool and found a few pieces of clear glass.
“We are very confident that we have got all the glass up and are now in the process of refilling the pool.”
They said they were adding three daily pool sweeps to prevent this from happening in future, and asked all park users not to take glass items around or near the pool area.
The staff also suggested that youths drinking in the park at night might be responsible.
They said: “Please be assured we take this incident very seriously and check the pool frequently throughout the day but as the park is not locked in the evening it is beyond our control when underage youths drink in the park.”
The park is advertised as “always open”.
Local councillor Bet McAllister said she was shocked to hear glass had been found in the pool.
She said: “I feel really sorry for the wee boy and really quite gutted that somebody would put a piece of glass in a paddling pool.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that, and I’ve used that park all my life, as a kid, and with my kids and grandchildren.
“Everybody knows it’s young children that use it, and it’s very, very busy.
“I can’t see any parents that are there giving their child anything glass, there’s no way that would happen.
“To me it sounds as if it’s been a night-time event.
“If it was kids drinking in there, they’ll find a way in, whether the gates are closed or not.
“Having said that, I haven’t heard of any disturbances there at night this year at all, and residents would have told me.”
A spokesperson for High Life Highland said: “High Life Highland is aware that Highland Tennis Academy, who operate the facilities at Bellfield Park, had to close the paddling pool yesterday afternoon due to a customer sustaining a minor injury while using the paddling pool due to a piece of glass being on the pool base.
“The paddling pool has been drained, swept, hoovered and is currently being refilled and we are hopeful it will reopen later today.
“We would encourage local park users to refrain from taking any glass objects into the park to prevent any further unnecessary closures of the paddling pool.”