Pool's defibrillator not working when nine-year-old boy drowned
Warning: This story contains details of a drowning death which some readers may find distressing
A coronial inquest into the drowning death of a nine-year-old boy at the Waikerie Swimming Pool in 2022 has been adjourned after the emergence of new evidence, including recordings from two separate Triple Zero (000) calls.
Cyrus John Buck died on December 3, 2022, after two lifeguards noticed him "facedown", sinking "approximately 50 centimetres" underneath the water at the deep end of the pool.
On what should have been the third and final day of the inquest, family members, including grandparents, were visibly upset in court when learning of the adjournment.
Lifeguard Hayley Collins was scheduled to give evidence as part of the inquest today, but will be given another month to prepare to respond to new evidence before next being called.
The court heard none of the lifeguards on duty saw when or where Cyrus re-entered the Waikerie Swimming Pool. (ABC Riverland: Jackson Byrne)
The counsel for Belgravia Health and Leisure, which manages and operates the Waikerie Swimming Pool, told the court Ms Collins would need time to review the recordings.
"In my submission, fairness requires her to have the ability to properly listen to that material, to be able to respond to it in a manner that is fair to her," barrister Holly Vealesaid.
"Having only been provided with these recordings today, that would be an unfair approach."
That request was granted by Deputy State Coroner Darren Evans, who said more time was needed to properly assess the new evidence.
Darren Evans (right) was shown the Waikerie Swimming Pool yesterday and given a breakdown of the events that led to Cyrus's death. (ABC Riverland: Jackson Byrne)
Broken mask and a faulty defibrillator
Yesterday, lifeguard Emily Brock, who performed CPR on nine-year-old Cyrus after he was retrieved from the pool, fellow lifeguard Noah Hensel told her that a bag valve mask, used to assist breathing, was "broken".
Ms Brock told the court her training instructed her not to give rescue breaths and only to use a bag valve mask, because of COVID-19 concerns at the time.
"We were told due to risk of infection that we were not to give rescue breaths,"
she said.
The court heard that was why Cyrus's aunt gave the rescue breaths instead.
It heard it was at this time Cyrus began having airway difficulties and vomit, water and saliva came from his mouth.
Ms Buck also told the inquest yesterday a defibrillator "would not progress through its sequence" when she attempted to use it.
"[The defibrillator] just kept saying 'continue CPR, apply pads'," Ms Brock said.
"It wasn't registering that we'd already placed pads on."
The Waikerie Swimming Pool is a popular destination for families and children during the summer months. (ABC Broken Hill: Em Jensen)
The inquest heard the two lifeguards assisting Ms Brock at the time went into shock while she was performing CPR on Cyrus.
She told the court one of those was a 17-year-old lifeguard who began vomiting.
"Noah had also gone into shock, he wasn't continuing to set up the oxygen," Ms Brock said.
"He's like, 'I just can't do this' and sat away from the scene."
Neither Mr Hensel nor Ms Collins have had the opportunity to give evidence yet.
The inquest will move from the Berri Magistrates Court to Adelaide on December 9.
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