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| Maldon swimming pool death: Firm admits health and safety breach | Maldon swimming pool death: Firm admits health and safety breach |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A leisure firm has admitted a health and safety breach over the death of a seven-year-old girl at a swimming pool in Essex. | A leisure firm has admitted a health and safety breach over the death of a seven-year-old girl at a swimming pool in Essex. |
| Michelle Gellard was pulled unconscious from the pool at Blackwater Leisure Centre, in Maldon, on 14 June 2008. | Michelle Gellard was pulled unconscious from the pool at Blackwater Leisure Centre, in Maldon, on 14 June 2008. |
| Leisure Connection Ltd, which runs the centre, admitted failing to ensure the safety of a member of the public at Chelmsford Crown Court. | Leisure Connection Ltd, which runs the centre, admitted failing to ensure the safety of a member of the public at Chelmsford Crown Court. |
| The company will be sentenced in March 2013. | |
| At an inquest into Michelle's death last year, a jury returned a verdict of accidental death by immersion. | At an inquest into Michelle's death last year, a jury returned a verdict of accidental death by immersion. |
| It heard the seven-year-old, from the Isle of Dogs in east London, had been competing in a judo competition at the centre and went for a swim after winning a silver medal. | It heard the seven-year-old, from the Isle of Dogs in east London, had been competing in a judo competition at the centre and went for a swim after winning a silver medal. |
| Michelle was pulled out of the pool by a lifeguard and fellow swimmer, but staff were unable to resuscitate her. She was flown to Colchester General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. | Michelle was pulled out of the pool by a lifeguard and fellow swimmer, but staff were unable to resuscitate her. She was flown to Colchester General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. |
| The inquest heard she had suffered a mild head injury while in judo class. | The inquest heard she had suffered a mild head injury while in judo class. |
| In August the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it would prosecute the owners of the swimming pool under section 3 (i) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. | In August the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it would prosecute the owners of the swimming pool under section 3 (i) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. |
| In a statement the firm said it was "working closely" with those involved in the prosecution and would comment further after sentencing. | |
| Michelle's family described her as a "loving, confident and helpful little girl". | Michelle's family described her as a "loving, confident and helpful little girl". |