Eagleby Aquatic Centre lifeguard shocked, paralysed as Logan City Council fined $80k in Beenleigh Court

Damning evidence before a court has revealed a dangerous list of safety oversights at a council pool, which culminated with a lifeguard suffering a potentially fatal electric shock while working.

The Eagley Aquatic Centre prior to its closure in 2022 and reopening in 2023.

A lifeguard at a Logan aquatic centre, where a toddler nearly drowned last week, was shocked and thrust backwards in the pool after an unsafe electric practice lead to a near fatal outcome.

Logan City Council was ordered to pay more than $80,000 in fines and costs for the fault.

A representative from the Council appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on January 16, 2024 and pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply with category two electrical safety duty/ expose an individual to risk of serious injury, illness or death.

The court heard that on February 20, 2022 at the Eagleby Aquatic Centre, a lifeguard was cleaning the pool with a nine metre aluminium pole.

There were 110kw high voltage electrical lines running over the top of the pool which the man accidentally struck.

He received a major electric shock and was paralysed for five to 10 minutes after being thrust backwards metres into the pool.

The victim was taken to hospital and was treated for electric shock and minor burns to his foot and leg.

Logan City Council operated the Eagleby Aquatic Centre which was closed in 2022 but reopened in December, 2023.

The court heard the Council did not implement a number of safety tools including a risk assessment.

The maximum penalty for this offence was a $1.5 million fine.

In April 2022, after the injury, the Council conducted a major internal investigation.

A health and safety prosecutor said the defendant was negligent in multiple areas.

“They’ve failed on several grounds, it was just lucky an incident hadn’t already occurred,” he said.

“Multiple workers were exposed to the risk and being a Government body they should be held to a higher standard.”

Logan City Council has been fined $80,000 after a lifeguard suffered a potentiall fatal electric shock while working. Picture: FIL (AAP/Renae Droop)

Magistrate Eoin Mac Giolla Ri said the injury must have been traumatising for the victim.

“This would have undoubtedly caused substantial terror,” he said.

“In my sentencing I consider there is a need for general deterrence but I acknowledge the defendant had no history of safety breaches.”

Logan City Council were fined $80,000 and ordered to pay $1601 in court costs.

The amounts must be paid within two months.

Compensation of $5,000 was also issued to the victim and no conviction was recorded.