A mother who sent her young son to his first overnight school camp was left with just a lock of hair after he drowned in a swimming pool.
Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett drowned at the Belfast Aquatics community pool and gym in Port Fairy, Victoria, in May 2021.
The Victorian Department of Education and the pool’s management have since pleaded guilty to violating occupational health and safety laws by failing to do everything possible to ensure Cooper’s safety.
During sentencing in Warrnambool County Court on Friday, Judge Claire Quin read a heartbreaking victim impact statement written by Cooper’s mother, Skye Meinen.
“I was able to style his hair the way he liked and took one last look at my latest baby before kissing him goodbye on the forehead,” Judge Quin read in a shaky voice, The Age reported.
Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett drowned during an overnight school camp in May 2021, which her mother, Skye Meinen (pictured together), said left her with “torment and emptiness.”
Cooper drowned at the Belfast Aquatics community pool and gym in Port Fairy, Victoria, and Judge Claire Quin found health and safety legislation had been breached.
“At the end of the day, we only returned home with a lock of her hair, some footprints and handprints, her bag of belongings that we sent her, and a lot of torment and emptiness.”
Judge Quin fined the education department $100,000 for its “serious” breach of workplace safety laws, while the management of Belfast Aquatics was fined $80,000.
The judge found that the department failed to convey information about Cooper’s swimming ability that his mother provided on the school’s consent form.
Parents were given permission slips and medical forms before the trip and Ms. Meinen claimed Cooper was a beginner with little to no swimming experience.
However, Merrivale Primary School never relayed information about students’ swimming skills to the pool before sending 28 young students there.
Judge Quin said The education department has shown remorse for the incident, while policies have since been put in place so that the information parents give on permission slips is passed on to family members.
“The failure to provide the information (to pool staff) in this case was a serious offence,” he told the court.
“The department’s guilty plea is indicative of remorse… (and) sincere condolences and recognition of the enormous impact on Cooper’s family and friends, the school and the broader local community.”
Cooper (pictured with his mother and brother Jett) died after attempts to resuscitate him in the pool failed.
Ms Meinen said she was only able to take home her son’s backpack, his hand and foot prints and a lock of hair after their final goodbye.
Cooper had been among the children identified as weak swimmers at the camp and staff saw him several times outside the shallow area and asked him to return.
Another swimmer who was with his daughter later saw the boy floating underwater and initially thought he was holding his breath before realizing something was wrong.
Cooper died after attempts to resuscitate him in the pool failed.
Since Cooper drowned, the education department now requires schools to test students’ swimming skills before performing the aquatic activity.
“I am informed that parents can now be assured that the information they provide to the school about their child’s swimming abilities will be provided to the relevant party involved in the swimming activity, (and) that there have been wider improvements in general in guidance and resources as well,” Judge Quin said.
“As far as this violation is concerned, the issue has been fully addressed.”
Pictured is the Belfast Aquatics community pool and gym
