The police officer who was on lifeguard duty when two teenagers drowned in a police swimming pool in 2002 has spoken of his relief after being cleared of all charges relating to their deaths.
Gameli Akuklu and William Kadama, both 14, were discovered lying at the bottom of the pool at the Peel Centre, Aerodrome Road, Hendon, on July 30, 2002.
PC Danny Phillips was the sole lifeguard on duty in charge of 29 youngsters on a Rainbow Scheme summer holiday activity day.
PC Phillips was charged with manslaughter by gross negligence' and offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
After an eight-week trial at the Old Bailey, he was found not guilty of manslaughter on June 12 and was told last Friday that he has also been cleared of the health and safety charges.
The 43-year-old, who worked as an officer in Barnet for more than 20 years, said: "This is a terrible tragedy that may or may not have been preventable.
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"I still have disturbed sleep and flashbacks. It was a terrible accident and it will live with me for the rest of my life and will live with the families forever."
It was said in court that PC Phillips should not have been the only lifeguard on duty. There is the possibility that the Metropolitan Police and Barnet Council, who jointly organised the Rainbow Scheme, could be prosecuted.
For PC Phillips it is an area he is reluctant to comment on: "The families want to know how William and Gameli drowned and we are never going to get that explanation.
"The case has been traumatic, I still don't know why it was only me that was ever prosecuted."
PC Danny Phillips
"The case has been traumatic, I still don't know why it was only me that was ever prosecuted.
"They the independent pool consultants who testified at the trial both agreed that the operational procedure for the swimming pool was flawed and it was contradictory and confusing.
"I was just a lifeguard, I had training in relation to the pool operation.
"There were other people responsible. It will be up to the Health and Safety Executive."
The pressure of the past four years has taken its toll, leading to the break-up of his marriage.
"It's been a terrible strain on me and my family life," he said. "I have been ill and it has affected my health. It is such a relief, I am trying to get myself back together so I can start to rebuild my life."
Trish Duffy was one of the teenagers at the pool when the incident happened. She was 16 at the time, with most of the youngsters aged between ten and 13.
"I had been on quite a few trips with William and Gameli," she said. "They were such nice guys, really fun to hang around with. They were always laughing and joking around and never separate from each other.
"It's something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I did testify and said what happened but we other children present never talk about it.
"It's quite upsetting. I never wanted him PC Phillips to be prosecuted, I'm glad he has got off. He was expected to do 500 things at once, the poor guy."
Posted by: Terry Waller, ANGLESEY,N.WALES on 12:04pm Tue 4 Sep 07
I am a duty manager of a leisure centre on Anglesey,N.Wales. Have worked here 22 yrs.I am an ex competitive swimmer.Am now 42 yrs old and been a qualified lifeguard and ASA teacher from the age of 16.Danny Phillips in my opinion is a very respected person nationwide.I found it very frightening that an individual could be treated this way, when it was so obvious it was a corporate issue.The injustice of the wrong person being taken to court and the way he has suffered because of this injustice over such a long period of time is so frightening.
Terry Waller.
I am a duty manager of a leisure centre on Anglesey,N.Wales. Have worked here 22 yrs.I am an ex competitive swimmer.Am now 42 yrs old and been a qualified lifeguard and ASA teacher from the age of 16.Danny Phillips in my opinion is a very respected person nationwide.I found it very frightening that an individual could be treated this way, when it was so obvious it was a corporate issue.The injustice of the wrong person being taken to court and the way he has suffered because of this injustice over such a long period of time is so frightening.
Terry Waller.
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