A mother who sent her young son off to his first overnight school camp was left with just a lock of his hair after he drowned in a swimming pool.
Cooper Onyett, eight, drowned at Belfast Aquatics Community Pool and Fitness Centre in Port Fairy, Victoria, in May 2021.
The Victorian Education Department and the pool’s management have since pleaded guilty to breaching occupational health and safety laws by failing to do everything they could to ensure Cooper’s safety.
During sentencing at Warrnambool’s County Court on Friday, a heartbreaking victim impact statement written by Cooper’s mother, Skye Meinen, was read out by Judge Claire Quin.
‘I got to comb his hair the way he liked it, and took one last look at my final baby before I kissed his forehead goodbye,’ Judge Quin read, her voice shaking, The Age reported.
Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett drowned during an overnight school camp in May 2021 which his mother, Skye Meinen, (pictured together) said left her with ‘torment and emptiness’
Cooper drowned at Belfast Aquatics Community Pool and Fitness Centre in Port Fairy, Victoria, and Judge Claire Quin found health and safety legislation had been breached
‘At the end of the day, we only came home with a lock of his hair, some feet and handprints, his bag of belongings we sent with him and a lot of torment and emptiness.’
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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 the department failed to relay information about Cooper’s swimming ability that his mother provided on the school’s consent form.
Parents were sent permission slips and medical forms before the trip and Ms Meinen stated that Cooper was a beginner with little or no experience swimming.
However, Merrivale Primary School never passed on information about students’ swimming abilities to the pool before sending 28 young students there.
Judge Quin said the education department has shown remorse for the incident, while policies had since been put in place so the information parents give on permission slips will be passed onto relative parties.
‘The failure to provide the information to [the pool staff] in this case was a serious breach,’ she told the court.
‘The department’s plea of guilty is indicative of remorse … [and] of sincere condolences and an acknowledgement of the enormous impact on the family and friends of Cooper, the school and local community in general.’
Cooper (pictured with his mum and brother Jett) died after attempts to resuscitate him at the pool failed
Ms Meinen said she was only able to bring her son’s backpack, hand and foot prints, and a lock of his hair home after their final goodbye
Cooper had been among the children identified as weak swimmers at the camp and was spotted multiple times outside the shallow area by staff who asked him to return to it.
Another swimmer who was with her daughter later saw the boy floating underwater and initially thought he was holding his breath before realising something was wrong.
Cooper died after attempts to resuscitate him at the pool failed.
Since Cooper’s drowning the education department now requires schools to assess students’ swimming abilities prior to the water activity being carried out.
‘I was informed that parents can now be confident the information they provide to the school regarding their child’s swimming abilities will be provided to the relevant party involved in the swimming activity, [and] that there have been broader improvements generally to the guidance and resources as well,’ Judge Quin said.
‘As far as this breach is concerned, the issue has been fully addressed.’
Belfast Aquatics Community Pool and Fitness Centre is pictured