A 12-year-old boy died on Sunday after drowning in the swimming pool of Pousada de Coloane in Coloane, and the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said yesterday that a code of practice for the use of swimming pools was posted next to the hotel’s swimming pool, reminding swimmers that there were no lifeguards at the swimming pool and that those under the age of 16 should be accompanied by their parents.
According to a statement by the Judiciary Police yesterday, during his stay at the hotel with his family on Sunday, the boy from the mainland went alone to the hotel’s swimming pool for a swim, but shortly afterwards a male hotel guest found him at the bottom of the pool, so he immediately got the boy out of the pool, while the hotel staff called the police for assistance.
The boy was rushed by ambulance to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, where he was pronounced dead after emergency treatment to save his life failed.
When asked by reporters after yesterday’s regular police press conference, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man underlined that no criminal offence was involved in the case, adding: “As for other matters, we will continue to follow them up”.
There were no injuries or fractures of a criminal nature on the body of the victim, the PJ statement noted.
In response to the Post’s enquiry concerning swimming safety yesterday, the Macau Government Tourism Office expressed sadness over the boy’s death, conveying condolences to his families.
According to MGTO’s reply to the Post by email, next to the hotel’s swimming pool, a code of practice for using it is displayed, stating that the pool does not have lifeguards and that swimmers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent (or guardian).
In addition, the reply noted, the swimming pool is equipped with 1-metre and 2-metre water depth zones, with a water depth scale on the side of the pool for users to know the different depths of the pool.
According to the reply, MGTO, in conjunction with the Health Bureau (SSM), Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) and the Sports Bureau (ID), has issued “Hotel Pool Safety Requirements” concerning the management, hardware facilities and equipment of swimming pools for compliance by the hotel sector, with the aim of enhancing safety awareness in the management of swimming pools in order to protect pool users.
There is no requirement under the existing legislation governing hotels and similar establishments for the provision of lifeguards at hotel swimming pools, nor is there any requirement on the qualifications or conditions of the lifeguards concerned, but in line with the government’s “Hotel Pool Safety Requirements”, recommendations regarding the provision of lifeguards during the opening hours of swimming pools have been given to hotels equipped with swimming pools. The requirements also recommend that for swimming pools with a water surface area of less than 250 square metres, a minimum of two lifeguards should be provided; and for those with a water surface area of more than 250 square metres, lifeguards should always be provided at a ratio of one person for every additional 250 square metres of water surface area or less.
Undated file photo of the swimming pool of Pousada de Coloane at Cheoc Van Beach where a 12-year-old boy from the mainland drowned on Sunday afternoon. – Photo courtesy of agoda
