Review underway after child nearly drowns at Mt. Albert Aquatic Centre

A young boy, aged 3 or 4, narrowly escaped drowning at Mt. Albert Aquatic Centre on May 4.

He was pulled from the water by a member of the public after his distressed mother alerted others to the emergency. Despite being resuscitated poolside and rushed to Auckland City Hospital in critical condition, he has since been discharged.

Auckland Council has launched a review in collaboration with Belgravia Leisure, the private company managing the facility, while WorkSafe is also conducting preliminary inquiries. Off-duty doctor Joe Hancock, who was present during the incident, told legacy media he was seriously concerned about the overall safety at the pool, particularly the first aid response.

Hancock, a senior renal doctor, said he intervened when he noticed a lifeguard performing CPR on the boy despite an obstruction in his airway. Identifying himself as a doctor, he turned the boy on his side to clear his airway before resuming resuscitation until emergency services arrived.

Witnesses reported that the boy was discovered unconscious at the pool’s bottom and brought to the surface by a member of the public, contradicting Belgravia Leisure’s earlier statement that credited lifeguards with the rescue.

Belgravia Leisure and Auckland Council are investigating the incident to gain clarity on the response and the circumstances leading up to it. The incident has raised questions about pool safety protocols and the enforcement of existing rules, particularly the requirement that children under four be within arm’s reach of a caregiver and wear a wristband.

Belgravia Leisure insists its lifeguards are fully trained and capable, while Auckland Council’s Garth Dawson pledged a comprehensive review of the event. Meanwhile, Hancock said that immediate changes to safety protocols are urgently needed to prevent future incidents.

Image credit: Clark Tai