Surrey Man Dies After Care Worker Landed on Him in Pool, Inquest Hears

A man named Michael Parker died. The incident happened while he was in Spain; he was on holiday with his care home. The care home was The Grange in Bookham, and an inquest investigated Parker’s death. He was 43 years old.

Parker had Down’s syndrome. Before the incident on June 12, 2023, he was jumping in and out of the pool. Harry Beckwith, a support worker on the trip, also jumped in the pool with Parker. They did this a few times.

Beckwith said Parker jumped to his left, and Beckwith jumped to the right. He tried to miss Parker but failed. Beckwith said Parker went under him; he landed on Parker and then realized Parker was gone.

Parker was at the bottom of the pool. Beckwith picked him up and took him to the stairs, then asked the lifeguard for help. Beckwith said the water wasn’t clear due to a waterfall, and the day before, they jumped in too, with no one saying it was not allowed.

Beckwith had safety training for pools but no lifeguard training, nor specific Down’s syndrome training. He communicated fine with Parker. Elaine Smith saw the incident from a lounger and saw Beckwith land right on Parker. People knew something was wrong when Parker did not come back up.

Smith said Beckwith dove to the bottom and brought Parker up to a shallow area. The lifeguard jumped in too, finding Parker lying in Beckwith’s arms, only his head moved. She thought Parker moved, possibly toward Beckwith, but she isn’t sure if Parker stayed still; she reiterated that Beckwith landed right on him.

Smith called it a “horrible freak accident”. Sarah Fox, a part-time care worker on the trip, foresaw no problems with the pool, stating that the residents were confident swimmers. Parker was very excited, especially about the pool, according to Fox.

Fox didn’t recall a conversation about jumping and would not have jumped in herself, as the residents were too unpredictable, and she was not there to entertain. After the ambulance, Beckwith spoke to Fox, saying he may have ruined Parker’s life.

Parker saw a doctor before the holiday, discussing issues with his neck. The family said he was full of life and energy and had an “innate sense of empathy.” He loved to dance, and his song was Don’t Stop Me Now. His death has devastated his family, and the inquest continues.