Inquest finds care worker warned Down's Syndrome man before pool death

An inquest into the death of Michael Parker, a 43-year-old man with Down's syndrome, revealed he was advised by a senior carer not to jump into a swimming pool prior to the incident that led to his death on June 12, 2023, while on holiday in Spain. The inquest heard evidence from support worker Joanna Henderson, who recounted that she had instructed Parker not to jump into the pool on June 10, and believed he understood her warning. The incident occurred when Harry Beckwith, Parker's carer, jumped into the pool and reportedly landed on him, causing Parker to sink to the bottom. Henderson indicated that the group were good swimmers and that rules prohibiting jumping in the care home pool were expected to apply to the hotel pool as well. The inquest also highlighted that a dynamic risk assessment had been performed upon the group's arrival at the hotel. Concerns were raised regarding whether proper documentation of the instructions given to Parker had been maintained.