Pools in Ajman must follow safety procedures

AJMAN - Ajman Civil Defence Department has warned the hotels, schools and clubs that have swimming pools in Ajman to follow the safety procedures.

Afkar Ali Ahmed

Published: Sat 21 May 2005, 11:15 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Nov 2023, 2:02 PM

This warning has come in the wake of the death of a five year-old Syrian boy who drowned on friday at the Ajman Beach Hotel swimming pool.

"The negligence of hotel administrations and parents contributed to the death of the boy who drowned after struggling in the water for ten minutes without anyone paying attention. The hotel administration should keep strict supervision specially on children's pools and ensure that the lifeguards are doing their jobs,"said Brigadier Adil Al Matroushi, Assistant Director of Ajman Civil Defence.

"The lifeguard should have closed the pool or assigned another staff member to supervise it until he returns," he commented

He pointed out that Ameer Sameer Noufal who was rushed to Khalifa Hospital hospital by civil defence personnel never regained his conciseness and died at the Hospital.

Brig. Al Matroushi said that the Department does not issue licenses for swimming pools if the establishments operating them did not provide a proof of appointing of two lifeguards and a pool administrator. The lifeguards, he stressed, should be available all time at the pool to keep their eye on swimmers.

An Ajman police source said that the lifeguard of the hotel is in their costudy for interrogation , but stressed that they cannot blame the accident on any one until the investigation is over and he case is referred to the court. "The report of forensic pathologist proved that the the boy's death was caused by drowning," he added

Speaking to Khaleej Times Nassir Nofal, the boy's uncle said that the parents who are residing in Ajman went to the hotel to spend the weekend, the boy told his mother that he will be playing around. His mother warned him not go to a far place. The boy went to the children's pool and tried to swim while theifeguard on duty was monitoring another pool. By the time he came back the boy had already drowned and he couldn't save him.

The parents of the boy are in a very sad and depressing condition, they cant talk to any one, but they cooperated with the police and gave their testimonies, and they are waiting for the results of the investigation which will decide on the party to be blamed for the boy's drowning, Nassir said.