Coronial
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2 year old child

Demographics

2y, female

Coroner

Lock

Date of death

2008-10-21

Finding date

2010-12-13

Cause of death

drowning

AI-generated summary

A 2-year-old girl drowned in a backyard swimming pool after gaining access through a sliding security door with a deliberately disabled lock. The father had tampered with and rendered non-functional the locking mechanism shortly after moving in, without realising the consequences. Supervision failed when the uncle opened the glass door for ventilation and the father did not adequately monitor the children. The pool fence and security door were non-compliant with standards at that time. Key clinical lessons include the critical importance of adequate supervision of young children around water hazards, the necessity of functioning safety barriers, and the cumulative effect of multiple safety failures. This death was entirely preventable through proper maintenance of pool safety equipment and consistent, vigilant supervision of vulnerable young children.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

paediatricsemergency medicineparamedicine

Error types

proceduralsystem

Clinical conditions

drowningcardiac arrest

Contributing factors

  • deliberately disabled pool security door lock by father
  • inadequate supervision of young children
  • non-compliant pool fencing
  • faulty sliding security screen door with non-functioning latch mechanism
  • uncle opening glass door without adequate monitoring of children

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Full implementation and regulation of amendments to swimming pool fencing legislation as set out in Chapter 8 of the Building Act 1975 (commenced 1 December 2010)
  2. Education and ongoing awareness campaign for Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) and independent real estate agents regarding new pool/spa safety laws and protocols in Queensland
Full text

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