The Coroner’s report about the case of a 6-year-old girl, Sherlyn Ler, who drowned at a swimming pool at Kallang Basin Swimming Complex back in 2017, indicated that her brain did not have enough oxygen and blood.
Ler was having a swimming class in the teaching pool of the complex, and she was later found floating unconscious on her back by other children.
She was then brought of the pool and sent to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The swimming coach, Mr Yeo Chwee Chuan, reportedly guided her to the middle of the pool before leaving her there to swim to the edge of the pool by herself, using a swimming board.
He then turned around to assist another student.
The pool was 45 metres long and 23 metres wide, and it was between 0.8 metres and 1 metre deep.
The Coroner said that there were lapses in Mr Yeo’s management of his class, she said:
“At several points in time, more than one student was out of his line of sight… Ideally, the child, especially one who is not an independent swimmer, should be within arm’s reach.“
The 2 lifeguards near the teaching pool, Firdaus Rajatmarican and Law Kum Wah were on duty that day, with the former in charge of the teaching pool and the wading pool because of a shortage of manpower.
He had reportedly brought his phone with him on duty because he wanted to monitor his mother at home.
He then asked Law to cover him at the pools as he was on his phone.
Firdaus was using his phone on duty and walking across the open seating area at 7.05pm, with Mr Law arranging chairs at the seating area before walking towards the pool at 7.09pm.
The pool was left unattended for at least 4 minutes.
Both lifeguards were scolded by the Coroner, who told them that drowning occurs within 20 to 60 seconds.
Both of them are no longer employed as lifeguards.
The victim’s mother was also at the scene at the time, seated at the platform near the pool and conversating with other members of the public, and checking her phone a few times.
She then tried to spot Sherlyn in the pool but couldn’t find her daughter.
The Coroner’s findings indicated that Sherlyn’s swimming difficulties were undetected by the coach and lifeguards.
The victim’s father then filed a lawsuit in the High COurt against the 4 defendants; Yeo Chwee Chuan (the coach), Firdaus Rajatmarican (lifeguard), Law Kum Wah (lifeguard) and SportSG.
SportSG has since countered the allegation, with all 4 defendants defending themselves.
They said that the coach was not their employee and merely a visitor granted permit to conduct his lessons there, and that the two lifeguards were sufficiently trained to carry out their duties.
The defendants also blamed the victim’s mother for not being attentive to her daughter and alleged that she contributed to the negligence.
The case is still ongoing.
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