THE PUBLIC swimming pool where a boy drowned on Thursday had eight lifeguards on duty at the time, the company that operates the pool has said.
Aura Sport and Leisure Management Ltd, which runs the pool in conjunction with Meath County Council, said it was operating at just over 60 per cent of its capacity at the time of the drowning.
Isaac Agaba (8), from Clonmagadden, Co Meath, died after he got into difficulty in the water at the Aura Leisurelink centre in Navan during a family swimming session at about 3.20pm.
Lifeguards took the child from the pool and attended to him. An ambulance was called and paramedics also attempted to resuscitate the boy before he was taken to Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The State Pathologist’s office was informed and gardaí were conducting an investigation. A Garda spokesman confirmed there was no criminal inquiry and said Garda involvement would be limited to providing evidence at any future inquest into the boy’s death.
A postmortem was due to take place yesterday.
It is believed the boy’s family had just recently moved to Clonmagadden, which is close to the leisure centre just off the Windtown Road on the outskirts of Navan town. He was a pupil at St Oliver Plunkett’s national school.
Aura Sport and Leisure Management Ltd expressed its “shock and sadness” at the incident.
“The child had been using the centre’s 25m pool during public swimming hours. The facility was staffed at the time by eight fully trained and qualified lifeguards. Visitor numbers at the pool were normal and the water facilities were operating at just over 60 per cent of their capacity.
“The child was rescued from the pool by lifeguards who had observed him in difficulty. He was attended to by lifeguards . . . Emergency services also attended the scene and removed the child .”
The company said it was “Ireland’s largest and most experienced leisure management company”.
“[The] tragic events have caused profound shock throughout the company which has been operating the Navan facility in conjunction with Meath County Council since 2000.”
It said it had a “detailed and comprehensive set of safety and emergency procedures in practice at all 10 of its centres in which all staff are fully trained.
“Aura constantly reviews the safety procedures in operation at all of its centres. The company’s existing procedures employ international best practice.”
The centre was closed on Thursday to facilitate investigations by the company and gardaí. It remained closed yesterday as a mark of respect to the boy’s family.
“This tragic incident is felt throughout Navan and the company wishes to extend its sympathy and condolences to the family concerned,” Aura said.
Mayor of Navan Joe Reilly said local people were shocked at the death and that if any issues arose following the investigation they would be addressed immediately.
A staff member pinned a notice to the closed gate of the leisure centre to inform the public it would be closed.
The woman indicated she had been present when when the drowning occurred.