Fieldfisher backs Kyra Hill campaign for safer water parks
Following the inquest into Kyra's death at Liquid Leisure three years ago, Kyra's parents have launched a campaign for robust and national regulation into how aqua parks are run, to keep children safe. Harvinder Kaur and Harriet Salvesen-Swah are also quoted in support of the campaign.
The coroner found that serious breaches of Liquid Leisure's health and safety requirements contributed to Kyra's death by unlawful killing. Her parents have subsequently spoken to the press to voice their concerns over the lack of regulation around water parks, particularly where so many children are potentially at serious risk.
Harvinder Kaur highlighted that despite local authority recommendations following a previous incident at the park, there remained serious breaches in how Liquid Leisure responded to the emergency of Kyra disappearing under the water.
In particular, the requirement that one adult per four children be in the water was never adhered to and routine checking of CCTV footage, which could have identified quickly where Kyra went under the water, was never carried out. The CCTV was only looked at more than 90 minutes after Kyra disappeared which by then was too late to save her.
Kyra's parents, Len Hill and Heather Parker, told the BBC that regulations such as the requirement for emergency plans and clear signage could prevent future unavoidable drownings at water parks. Mr Hill also said that the inquest had been "entirely shocking".
"There was no adequate risk assessment, no emergency plan in place for if somebody became submerged under water, and I'd say the fact that your lifeguards are only trained for surface rescue and are not trained to go beyond the surface to recover somebody, that's alarming.
"To hear those things unveiled in the inquest, it gives you some of the answers as to why this has happened - why Kyra was in that water for two hours, drowning and dying.
"Once going through the inquest you see that this is potentially happening across the country."
Kyra's parents say water parks needed to be more tightly governed, to protect other parents from the "torment" of losing a child.
"We've heard from the inquest that Kyra was unlawfully killed. What happens next?" Mr Hill said.
"Is it just 'Kyra was unlawfully killed' and then the next child who comes along, she'll be unlawfully killed as well, and these places can still operate?"
Fieldfisher continues to support the family in their campaign and in the ongoing civil claim.
Contact us
For further information about inquests and fatal injury claims, please call Harvinder Kaur on 03304606762 or email harvinder.kaur@fieldfisher.com or call Harriet Salvesen-Sawh on 03304606761 or email harriet.salvesen-sawh@fieldfisher.com.
Alternatively
- You can speak to our personal injury solicitors on freephone 0800 358 3848
- email us: personalinjury@fieldfisher.com
- Complete the short online enquiry form
All enquiries are completely free of charge and we will investigate all funding options for you including no win, no fee.
