Arabic version: تحقيق قضائي يستمع إلى إخفاقات كبيرة في سياج مسبح منزلي

According to ABC News, a coronial inquest has heard that a backyard pool in Salisbury, Adelaide’s north, where a 19-month-old boy drowned in November 2022 had significant fencing safety problems and may never have been subject to an approval application.

South Australia Deputy State Coroner Emma Roper is investigating the death of the boy, whose name has been suppressed. Counsel assisting the coroner Darren Evans said the child was found floating near the pool steps after his siblings noticed he was missing at about 5:20pm. Neighbours assisted, called triple zero and began CPR with advice over the phone.

The court heard the boy was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital after paramedics achieved a return of spontaneous circulation following about 30 minutes. He died seven days later from a severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy injury after cardiac arrest. Ms Roper said it may remain unknown who opened the pool gate, but it appeared to be open when the child was retrieved.

Police found the gate’s top hinge was missing and a bicycle lock had been placed around it to keep it shut. Salisbury Council pool inspector Jeff Shillabeer identified several significant issues, including a gate that did not self-close, a gap of more than 10 centimetres below the fence and climbable objects near the pool. The property owners had rectified the issues by a January 2023 re-inspection.

The inquest heard the pool was likely built before 1972, before pool-fencing requirements were enforced, and was therefore not required to be entered on council records or subject to an approval application. The deputy coroner will consider potential changes to regulation of older pools, particularly rental properties, including a regular inspection system. The inquest continues.