The parents of an 11-year-old girl who drowned at an aqua park have called for tighter regulations so other families do not have to "bury their children". Kyra Hill got into difficulty in a designated swimming area at Liquid Leisure near Windsor, Berkshire, in August 2022. In May, an inquestconcluded she was unlawfully killedfollowing gross breaches in health and safety, including the lack of an emergency plan or an adequate risk assessment. Her parents, Heather Parker and Leonard Hill, said regulations such as the requirement for emergency plans and clear signage could prevent future unavoidable drownings at water parks. "There's no way that this should be happening in 2025 in the UK - it shouldn't be happening to our children," said Mr Hill. Kyra was attending a birthday party at the Berkshire aqua park on 6 August 2022 when she went missing. The inquest heard a 17-year-old lifeguard spotted her struggling and dived in after her, but she said visibility was "terrible" and she "couldn't see anything". Despite being told Kyra had got out, the lifeguard told colleagues and a manager quickly attended. Emergency services were called 37 minutes after Kyra was last seen. She was found at about 17:10 BST, more than an hour after she was last seen, and pronounced dead in hospital. Ms Parker said the inquest was "one breach after another". "Some of it was a shock but you kind of knew that there was something wrong," she said. Mr Hill said the inquest was "entirely shocking". "There was no adequate risk assessment, no emergency plan in place for if somebody became submerged under water, and I'd say the fact that your lifeguards are only trained for surface rescue and are not trained to go beyond the surface to recover somebody, that's alarming," he said. "To hear those things unveiled in the inquest, it gives you some of the answers as to why this has happened - why Kyra was in that water for two hours, drowning and dying." He said he knew his daughter was dead as soon as he got the call. "As I got that phone call, it was like my heart just got ripped in half straight away and slowly along the drive it was tearing into smaller pieces," he said. "You know your daughter has gone to an aqua park where the biggest risk to life is drowning... when you get that phone call there's only one place that Kyra could be and it's under the water." He said the outcome of the inquest "makes you think". "Once going through the inquest you see that this is potentially happening across the country," he said. He said aqua parks needed to be more tightly governed, adding he and Ms Parker wanted to protect other parents from the "torment" of losing a child. "We've heard from the inquest that Kyra was unlawfully killed. What happens next?" he said. "Is it just 'Kyra was unlawfully killed' and then the next child who comes along, she'll be unlawfully killed as well, and these places can still operate?" He said: "Parents should not be having to go and look at their child laying on a slab in a morgue, laying stiff and freezing cold, all because they wanted to have a fun day out." He said Kyra had "a very big heart" and would not want other children to suffer in the way she did. "Kyra would always protect people so right now I'm sure, wherever she is, she definitely would not want anybody else to experience what she had to experience," he said. "She would definitely be pressing to get these things changed... we don't want our children dying. "We don't want parents to bury their children and it needs to change." The BBC has approached Liquid Leisure and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) for comment. The MHCLG previously said it was important that lessons were learnt from Kyra's inquest, and that aqua park operators must adhere to the health and safety regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act. You can followBBC BerkshireonFacebook,X (Twitter), orInstagram.
Water park regulations 'would save children's lives'
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Parents of Drowning Victim Call for Stricter Water Park Regulations"
Bbc News
7.5
TruthLens AI Summary
The tragic drowning of 11-year-old Kyra Hill at Liquid Leisure aqua park in Berkshire has prompted her parents to advocate for stricter safety regulations in water parks. Kyra drowned during a birthday party on August 6, 2022, in a designated swimming area. An inquest revealed that her death was a result of unlawful killing due to gross breaches in health and safety protocols, including the absence of an emergency plan and inadequate risk assessments. Kyra's parents, Heather Parker and Leonard Hill, expressed their grief and frustration, emphasizing that no parent should have to endure the pain of losing a child in such circumstances. They believe that implementing regulations requiring emergency plans and clear signage could prevent similar tragedies in the future, asserting that it is unacceptable for such incidents to occur in the UK in 2025.
During the inquest, it was revealed that a lifeguard had difficulty locating Kyra due to poor visibility and that emergency services were not called until 37 minutes after she was last seen. Mr. Hill described the inquest findings as shocking, particularly the lack of adequate training for lifeguards, who were only prepared for surface rescues and not for submerged rescues. The couple's plea for change is driven by a desire to protect other families from experiencing the same torment they have faced. They stated that the inquest's outcome raises concerns about the safety of children across the country in similar facilities, highlighting the urgent need for improved governance in aqua parks. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has indicated the importance of learning from this tragedy and ensuring that operators comply with health and safety regulations, but Kyra's parents are calling for more decisive action to ensure safety measures are effectively enforced.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The tragic drowning of 11-year-old Kyra Hill at a water park has sparked a call for tighter regulations that aim to prevent similar incidents in the future. The parents' anguish is palpable as they pursue justice and seek to ensure that no other family experiences such a loss. This news serves as a potent reminder of the importance of safety regulations in recreational environments.
Regulatory Implications and Public Safety Concerns
The article highlights significant lapses in health and safety protocols at the Liquid Leisure aqua park, including the lack of an emergency plan and inadequate risk assessments. The parents' insistence on improved regulations suggests a broader concern about the safety of children in recreational facilities. This advocacy may reflect a growing sentiment among the public about the necessity of stringent safety standards to protect children.
Public Perception and Emotional Appeal
By illustrating the devastating emotional impact of this tragedy on Kyra's family, the article aims to evoke empathy from the audience. This emotional appeal is likely intended to galvanize public support for the proposed regulatory changes. The use of direct quotes from the parents underscores the urgency of their message, effectively engaging readers and prompting them to consider the implications of such safety oversights.
Potential Concealment of Broader Issues
While the article focuses on the specific case of Kyra Hill, it raises questions about the overall safety culture in water parks and similar recreational venues. This could indicate a desire to redirect public attention from systemic issues in the industry, such as inadequate training for lifeguards and the general enforcement of safety regulations.
Manipulation and Trustworthiness
The article's narrative may exhibit some level of manipulation by emphasizing the emotional distress of the parents and the shocking details revealed during the inquest. However, the factual basis provided, including the inquest findings, lends credibility to the parents' claims. The emotional tone used might influence public perception, aiming to mobilize support for regulatory changes.
Community Impact and Economic Ramifications
The call for improved safety regulations could have far-reaching consequences for the water park industry. If new laws are enacted, water parks may face increased operational costs related to safety measures, which could impact pricing for consumers. Additionally, heightened safety standards might lead to a decline in attendance if families perceive water parks as unsafe without these changes.
Target Audience and Societal Engagement
The article likely resonates more with parents and guardians concerned about child safety. It appeals to a community that prioritizes the protection of children in public spaces, potentially uniting them in advocacy for enhanced safety measures.
Market Influence and Broader Context
While the news may not directly impact stock markets or specific companies in the short term, it highlights a growing trend towards increased regulatory scrutiny in recreational industries. Companies operating in this space might need to prepare for potential changes in safety regulations.
Global Relevance
The issue of child safety in recreational environments is pertinent not just in the UK but globally. As nations grapple with similar challenges, this incident could serve as a cautionary tale that influences regulatory discussions elsewhere.
The article appears to be factual and grounded in recent events, though it uses emotional language to enhance its persuasive effect. By focusing on a specific tragedy, it underscores the importance of safety regulations in protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children, from preventable accidents.