Two swimming instructors have been sentenced by the Northern Netherlands court to 60 and 120 hours of community service because an 11-year-old boy drowned during their lesson. Which reports the court on Tuesday.
In February 2020, an Eritrean boy drowned in the Ny Sudersé swimming pool in Lemmer during a water habituation class, after lifeguards lost sight of him. The boy had only been in the Netherlands for a short time and was in his first week of school. His group of eleven students was taught in the shallow part of the pool by two highly experienced swimming instructors.
In particular, the judge accuses the two that the drowned boy was not explicitly explained that water is dangerous and that he could drown if he ended up under water. The duo would also not have made any agreements between themselves about how they would keep order or overview and they did not count the children. The judge sees the sentences as a signal to point out to other professionals and organizations “the duty of care that rests on them” and the fact “that they must be constantly aware of what is required of them in the concrete situation”.
Also read: Adonay (11) drowned during his first school swimming lesson
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