Risk management company admits health and safety breaches after a child drowned in a swimming pool
Risk management company admits health and safety breaches after a child drowned in a swimming pool at a caravan site near Grange-over-Sands
Luca Hurle, 4, died at Old Park Wood caravan park in August 2016Was described as an ‘angel’ in tribute by father Gavin online after his death Newmac Ltd today admitted health and safety breaches at Preston Crown Court hearing Company held a contract with Holker Estates, owners of the park, to conduct risk assessments related to use of poolHolker Estates and Newmac Ltd will be sentenced at court on June 24
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A risk management company has admitted health and safety breaches after a child drowned in a swimming pool at a caravan site near Grange-over-Sands.
Four-year-old Luca Hurle died after getting into difficulty in the heated indoor pool at Old Park Wood caravan park in August 2016.
The youngster, from Newport, Gwent, had been on holiday with his father Gavin Hurle, stepmother Donna Southcott and brothers Gabriel and Oliver when the tragedy occurred.
Four-year-old Luca Hurle died after getting into difficulty in the heated indoor pool at Old Park Wood caravan park in August 2016. Pictured: Luca with his father Gavin
Luca was seen by witnesses wearing armbands and playing with his family, around 15 minutes before he was found unconscious.
He was taken to Furness General Hospital by emergency services before being transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where he died.
His father paid tribute to Luca online after his death, in a heartbreaking Facebook post which read: ‘Rip my little Angel daddy loves you so much xxxx’ accompanied by a photo of him holding his son.
He had also posted photographs of the family visiting a waterfall together just days before Luca passed away.
David Salazar, 45, and his family had joined Gavin, Luca, his stepmother and brothers at the caravan park.
Speaking to reporters at the time, Mr Salazar explained the ‘awful’ accident, saying that one minute the four-year-old was swimming and then he was at the bottom.
He described Luca as an ‘angel’ and said: ‘Luca was a good, funny boy who liked to eat, he was always hungry.
‘He was constantly playing and trying to copy his older brother. He was running around with my children only days ago and now he’s gone.
‘I’m speechless.’
The youngster (pictured), from Newport, Gwent, had been on holiday with his father Gavin Hurle, stepmother Donna Southcott and brothers Gabriel and Oliver when the tragedy occurred
Newmac Ltd today pleaded guilty at a hearing at Preston Crown Court to failing to discharge general healthy and safety duties to a person other than an employee at Old Park Wood caravan park.
The company had held a contract with Holker Estates, the owners of the park, to conduct risk assessments relating to the use of the pool.
Holker Estates Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to conduct an undertaking in such a way to ensure that persons not in its employment were not exposed to risks to their health and safety; and failing to comply with an improvement notice at an earlier hearing.
An inquest concluded Luca died from drowning and a hypoxic brain injury.
Senior coroner Andre Rebello said the death was ‘a tragic accident’. Holker Estates and Newmac Ltd will return to court on June 24 2022 when the companies will be sentenced.
Luca was taken to Furness General Hospital by emergency services before being transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where he died. Pictured: Old Park Wood caravan park
