Lifeguard appears at court

A lifeguard has appeared in court accused of failing to take reasonable care of a young boy who drowned and other pool users at Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre.

Kelly Woods, aged 30, spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth when she appeared at the city's magistrates court yesterday.

The case was brought by the Health & Safety Executive following the death of Suraj Mall on February 10, 2008.

Villiers Primary School pupil Suraj, of Pembroke Avenue, Priestfield, Wolverhampton, got into difficulties at the £12 million centre during a family outing. He was pronounced dead at New Cross Hospital. His father Nirmal Mall, a landscape gardener, released a tribute after the tragedy in which he described his son as "daddy's little helper".

Woods, of Woodland Avenue, Tettenhall Wood, is charged with having failed to take reasonable care of the safety of users of the pool, including but not limited to Suraj Mall while on duty as a lifeguard. She was released to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 19.