Lopes kristen,tekeishafindings
Deceased
Tekiesha Lopes-Kristen
Demographics
6y, female
Date of death
2009-01-24
Finding date
2011-03-21
Cause of death
Hypoxic Ischaemic Brain Injury from submersion in a pool
AI-generated summary
Tekiesha Lopes-Kristen, aged 6, drowned after submersion in a home swimming pool at Wattle on 22 January 2009, dying from hypoxic ischaemic brain injury at Children's Hospital Westmead two days later. The coroner found that the pool did not comply with fencing requirements under the Swimming Pools Act 1992. To prevent similar deaths, the coroner recommended that retailers of inflatable and portable pools (over 300mm deep) inform purchasers of mandatory safety provisions, particularly fencing requirements; and that community service officers conducting home visits receive training in pool safety compliance. The case illustrates how regulatory awareness gaps and inadequate safety infrastructure in residential settings can lead to preventable child deaths, and how targeted education of retailers and service providers could improve compliance.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- submersion in home pool
- non-compliance with Swimming Pools Act 1992 fencing requirements
- lack of adequate pool fencing
Coroner's recommendations
- All retailers of inflatable or portable pools capable of holding water over 300mm deep must inform purchasers that Swimming Pools Act 1992 safety provisions apply, particularly that pools must be fenced
- Understanding of Swimming Pools Act 1992 safety provisions should be included in training of community service officers conducting client home visits
Full text
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