Claims lifeguard absent as little boy near drowned before dying

The managing director of a company that operated a Brisbane pool where a little boy near drowned and later died has defended a 19-year-old being in charge and denied the lifeguard was absent.

Pool signage outside Runcorn -

The managing director of a company that operated a Brisbane pool where a little boy near drowned and later died has defended the company placing a 19-year-old in charge of the facility at the time and denied the lifeguard was absent from supervising the indoor pool for 13 minutes around the time of the incident.

Five-year-old Ali Alabedi had to be rescued from a main indoor pool after crossing into it from a separated shallower area in November 2019.

Ali, who had been at the Runcorn Aquatic Centre within his family, later died in hospital.

City Venue Management Pty Ltd (CVM) which operates the pool, has pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with health and safety duty – category 2.

The Office of Work Health and Safety Prosecutor alleges there was inadequate supervision of the indoor pool by the absence of a lifeguard roaming around it at the time, placing pool users including Ali at risk.

Brisbane Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that a 19 year-old lifeguard, one of four on duty at the time, was the duty manager for the Runcorn facility on the afternoon Ali near drowns.

“The 19-year-old man who was delegated the responsibility for supervising this venue on the day of the incident lacked sufficient experience to do so. Agree or disagree,” barrister Josh Underwood, for the OWHSP, asked.

“Disagree,” CVM managing director Jay Clarke said.

Barrister Kristi Riedel, representing CVM, asked why he disagreed.

“I’ve seen his core competencies … what he is experienced and qualified in and it’s clear that he is suitable and capable of performing the duty management role,” he said.

The court heard the lifeguard had completed his 12 month traineeship with CVM the month before and had been a qualified lifeguard for 11 months.

CCTV footage of the indoor pool at the time of the incident showed the lifeguard was absent from roaming the pool for more than 13 minutes, the court heard.

“But what the CCTV doesn’t show is the spine through the middle of the pool, which has a full view of everywhere indoor,” Mr Clarke said.

“In my opinion, that’s where the guard was.”

The trial before Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert continues.