Swimming Pool Tragedy Highlights Need for Regular Pool Maintenance

A recent tragic swimming pool accident in the United States has resulted in a $7 million settlement from the insurers of the apartment complex and the swimming pool maintenance company. The settlement is intended to help pay for the costs of the medical treatment needed by Lorenzo Peterson, 15, whose arm became stuck in the drain at the bottom of the swimming pool.

Lorenzo was trapped underwater for a full 10 minutes by the force of the pool’s suction pump. Six people had tried, unsuccessfully, to pull the boy from the six-foot-deep water. He was finally rescued when a police officer managed to switch off the swimming pool pump.

Lorenzo had been playing in the deep end of the pool with a friend. His friend had managed to remove the pool drain cover because the fastening screws had become rusted and loose. The attorney representing the Peterson family said that “A simple rod with a hook fastening the cover could prevent this from happening again.”

Lorenzo suffered irreversible brain damage and is currently receiving neurological rehabilitation. The insurance settlement will help to cover the costs of his treatment.

This tragic accident was only one in a series of pool tragedies that have occurred in recent times. As swimming pool ownership increases in the U.K. it is important for everyone who owns and operates a swimming pool to be fully aware of the regular maintenance and inspection needed to keep their swimming pool safe.