Lifeguards slammed for slacking that led to tragedy

A coroner has slammed lifeguards at a public pool in Kwun Tong for slacking and urged authorities to install more surveillance cameras after a 72-year-old woman drowned and failed to receive help for 15 minutes in 2017.

Coroner Philip Wong Wai-kuen also suggested that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department introduce a review mechanism on pool accidents and step up lifeguard training to prevent similar incidents.

After a three-day inquest, Wong yesterday ruled the death of Choi Kan-choi, 72, to be an accident.

He said an autopsy found Choi had died of stroke and pneumonia, suggesting she suffered from a stroke while swimming, which made her drown in a 1.2-meter-deep indoor pool in Kwun Tong on July 16, 2017.

Although four lifeguards were on duty that day, Wong said he was "very shocked" to hear that none of them noticed Choi's condition until she was discovered and pulled out by another swimmer 15 minutes later.

Wong cited an internal LCSD guideline that a person can drown within several seconds, while some are unconscious and cannot shout for help.

The guideline suggested lifeguards continuously scan the pool - for at least 10 seconds each time - to monitor swimmers' movements, including those under water.

"How many seconds are there in a minute, two minutes or even three? Why didn't they notice [Choi]?" he said.

"Two lifeguards were sitting two meters above the pool [in lookouts]. Why couldn't they spot an old lady who was drowning for 15 minutes? What were they doing?"

One of the two lifeguards stationed on the lookouts said the accident happened in a "blind spot," while the other said he was late for other official duties.

As for the two lifeguards on patrol, one felt sick and went to the bathroom after seeking permission from the manager, while the other was standing next to a lookout after feeling dizzy, but he did not report it.

Upon checking surveillance footage, Wong said an umbrella was installed on the lookout, despite the pool being indoors.

Wong said because of the parasol, he could not see what the lifeguards were doing when Choi drowned.

"I don't know if they were looking around or sleeping," he said. "I don't understand why the parasol was needed for the indoor pool. It's weird."

He said the only explanation he could think of was that the lifeguards failed to watch the pool, where 100 to 200 people were swimming.

Wong made three suggestions to authorities, including adding more surveillance cameras that can see the lifeguards and swimmers clearly. He also called for the department to establish a review system to make post-accident suggestions within six months as well as ensuring lifeguards are familiar with the operational guide.

Speaking outside the court, Choi's daughter Ng Ling-ling criticized the lifeguards for slacking and failing to notice her mother was drowning.

"It'd be useless even if there were 100 lifeguards [and they were all slacking]," she said. She said doctors had explained to her that a person is unlikely to survive after drowning for more than six minutes.

She recalled her mother was very healthy despite being in her 70s, adding she did housework and could carry home rice totaling over 30 catties.

In a separate hearing, a lifeguard was ordered to serve 160 hours of social service for lying about the number of lifeguards on duty when a seven-year-old girl drowned in a Ma On Shan clubhouse pool.

Chu Lai-yin had pleaded guilty before acting principal magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai in Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts. He told officers there were two of them on duty when the girl drowned in private estate Villa Rhapsody on September 22 last year.

But surveillance footage showed Chu, 25, was the only lifeguard on duty at the time.

Lifeguard Tai Cheung, 20, and pool operator Mok Siu-ngai, 28 also each faced a count of the same charge but had pleaded guilty. They will appear in court on June 8.

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com