Man with Down’s syndrome died after care worker ‘landed on him’ in swimming pool
A man with Down’s syndrome died after his carer jumped into a swimming pool and “landed on him”, an inquest has heard.
Michael Parker (pictured) died on June 12 2023 while on holiday in Spain with residents and staff members from The Grange care home in Bookham, Surrey, where he lived.
On Monday, an inquest into the 43-year-old’s death heard that Mr Parker was “jumping in and out” of the pool prior to the incident.
Giving evidence, support worker Harry Beckwith, who was on the trip, told Surrey Coroner’s Court: “Michael was jumping in and out of the pool, doing his dancing and all that so I decided to jump in with him so he could enjoy his holiday and we jumped in and out a few good times before the incident happened.”
Mr Beckwith said that Mr Parker jumped into the pool “to his left”.
He continued: “I jumped to the right trying to miss him but somehow he had gone underneath me and I landed on him.”
Mr Beckwith said he then realised Mr Parker was “not there” and had gone “to the bottom” so went down to pick him up before taking him to the stairs of the pool and asking the lifeguard for help.
Asked whether the water was “clear” when he jumped in, Mr Beckwith said it was not because of the waterfall in the pool.
The support worker told the inquest that the day before the incident, members of the group – including himself and Mr Parker – had been jumping into the pool and that no-one had told them they were not allowed to do so.
Mr Beckwith said he had not received any lifeguard training before the trip but had completed some training regarding safety and taking care of clients in and around swimming pools.
He told the court he had had no specific training regarding individuals with Down’s syndrome and did not have any difficulties communicating with Mr Parker.
Elaine Smith, who was staying at the hotel at the time and witnessed the incident from a nearby sun lounger, told the inquest she saw Mr Beckwith land “right on Michael”.
She said people present knew there was something wrong after the pair jumped in because Mr Parker “did not come back up”
“Harry dived to the bottom of the pool and brought him up, he had his arms underneath Michael and brought him along to a shallow bit in the pool and that’s when the lifeguard jumped in as well and he was just lying in Harry’s arms flat with just his head moving,” she added.
Ms Smith told the court she thought Mr Parker may have moved towards Mr Beckwith as the care worker jumped in.
Asked whether it was possible Mr Parker had stayed in one place and did not move towards Mr Beckwith, she said: “I don’t know because when it happened Harry landed right on Michael.
“The last time I saw Michael he wasn’t where Harry had jumped in, it was like he jumped right towards where Harry was jumping in.”
The court heard that Ms Smith had described the incident as a “horrible freak accident” in a written witness statement provided to the inquest.
Sarah Fox, a part-time care worker at The Grange who was also on the holiday, said she “did not foresee any problems” with the pool and described the group of residents on the trip as “confident swimmers”.
“Michael was so excited, especially about the swimming pool,” she said.
Asked about whether staff had discussed jumping into the pool before the holiday, Ms Fox said: “I don’t remember any conversation but I never thought there had to be.
“I’m surprised anyone would jump or dive in, there was no way I would’ve done it, they (the care home residents) were too unpredictable in the water and it’s not my holiday, I’m not there to entertain.”
Ms Fox said that after Mr Parker had been put into an ambulance, Mr Beckwith approached her and said: “If I haven’t f****** killed him, I’ve ruined the rest of his life.”
The inquest heard Mr Parker had seen his GP, prior to the holiday, to discuss issues with his neck.
In a statement read out on behalf of Mr Parker’s family by Emily Raynor, representing them, his brother described him as “full of life and energy” with an “innate sense of empathy”.
The statement said Mr Parker loved “rocking out on the dancefloor” and his song of choice was Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen.
“Michael’s death has devastated us all,” they added.
The inquest continues.
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