A toddler has drowned in a swimming pool at a gym.
The 20-month-old girl had gone to Esporta at the Lowry Outlet Mall at Salford Quays.
It is understood the child was with her parents when the tragedy happened.
The family had left the pool and returned to a changing room when it is believed the child wandered off back to the pool and fell in.
Police and paramedics were called to the gym at 4.40pm yesterday and the little girl was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
An investigation has been launched into the tragedy but police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
Paul Bowden, a member at the gym, said: "I was going to book a class when we saw paramedics, four police cars, and a fire engine at the scene.
"A doctor who was a member at the gym had apparently tried to resuscitate the child before she was passed to a paramedic who administered oxygen and then carried the child to an ambulance.
"The mother, who was in her 30s, was hysterical and she was escorted by police to a vehicle. There was a receptionist from the gym who was in tears too.
"The pool is 1.2m deep except for an area which is 1m. The distance from the pool to the changing rooms is very short – and it is just an opening, not a door. I understand Sunday afternoons in the pool are reserved for families."
The centre is within the shopping mall which is next to the Lowry arts centre and close to MediaCity UK.
The Esporta centre was today closed. The company's head office is in Wokingham, Berkshire, but it has several gyms in Greater Manchester.
An Esporta spokesperson said: "We can confirm that, due to a serious incident, the Esporta club at Salford Quays was closed on Sunday to allow for investigation to take place – it will remain closed throughout Monday.
"Due to the nature of the investigation we are unable to give any details regarding the event, and we apologise to members for any inconvenience caused by the closure. At this terrible time our thoughts and wishes are with the family affected."
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A sad tragic event, but why did it happen?
Very tragic - i was in the gym when it happened - the pool is unsupervised there is no lifeguard and there are notices stating that it is unsupervised so people are advised not to swim alone - how she wandered off out of her parents sight i dont know but it was a very distressing sight - so tragic ...
Are public pools supposed to have life guards or does it not count if its a members club?
A sad, tragic story either way. Thoughts to the family.
So sad, my thoughts are with the family.
This is very sad indeed- my thoughts are with the family
yet again gyms having unsupervised pools...ive seen this far too often, i have taught at gyms around the north west and lifeguards are suppose to be on duty at all times, even when they go and do a pool test-you should see them at total fitness gyms- its shocking- they leave the pool area and go in the back to do the test- 10-15 mins...
First, my condolences to the little girl's family. Horrendous to go for a family swim and come home without your little girl; unimaginable really.
It shouldnt have happened. Health and safety wise in a non-lifeguard pool there should be a door that children cannot open. Children can be off in a second, and it obviously only takes seconds for a tragedy to occur.
that is so sad i thought pools had to have life guards
I think most gyms don't have lifeguards on all the time anymore. I go to DW and they have camera's on the pool and signs saying there are no lifeguards.
Very very sad!
Heart--breaking xxx
very sad....tragic story......thoughts are with the family.
but reading comments.....are people trying to blame the fact there was no lifeguard on the poolside ?
but what were the parents doing ? where were they ?
We were at the Lowry Centre yesterday when this happened. It was a very upsetting sight but our health professionals police and our fire service were all there and tried so very hard to save her. Maybe someone will learn from this tragic accident and pass a law in her honour to govern gym pools everywhere so this can not happen again. Sleep well angel and my heartfelt sincere condolences to the little family
I'm so sorry to hear this, and am very sad for all concerned. Terrible.
awful accident my condolencses to the family concerned.
Just make you think that allways keep an eye on a child no matter where you happen to be.
This is the most awful price to pay to be too late.
Life guards should be on at every pool no matter where it is.
4 police cars, an ambulance and a fire engine????
Heart breaking story R I P little one x
What a terrible tragedy, Our hearts go the family at this sad time. God Bless her.
Why was there no child latch on the door to the pool ?????????
I'm a member of the gym and have found it odd how they can have these 'family days'. It's a private gym and not a public leisure centre so it's really not equipped to have children around. I appreciate there is signage regarding the unsupervised pool but to not have a lifeguard during these events seems, especially with hindsight, very foolish! I hope the gym learns from this and will notbe so complacent in future.
Thoughts are with the family - a very sad thing to have happened
Annie Ruff, the only perfect parent in the world or no kids of her own?
What price do you put on a child’s life, or any life for that matter?
4 x life guards at £13,000 + on cost’s £65,000 / 3000 members / 12 = £1.80/month/member?
Very, very sad, my heart is with the parents. You have my deepest sympathy.
No matter how vigilant you are accidents will happen especially where children are concerned.
The responsibility is with the law that allows private clubs to open without lifeguard cover, public authority pools would have had a minimum of two lifeguards on a 25m pool at all times, and not allowed them off to do pool tests or cleaning etc.
The lifeguards would have administered CPR immediately.
No doubt risk assessment’s will have been done to show a minimum risk factor, yes this type of tragedy doesn’t happen very often but that’s not much comfort for the parent’s of this poor child.
Change the law – compulsory lifeguard cover for this type of pool.
R.I.P.LITTLE ONE YOUR PARENT,S MUST BE DEVASTATED MY HEART GOE,S OUT TO ALL OF YOUR FAMILY X