Wolverhampton lifeguard did not hear schoolgirl's cry as she found tragic boy

Lifeguard Kelly Woods is accused of failing to properly supervise pool users, including eight-year-old Suraj Mall, at Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre in 2008.

During her trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday jurors heard Suraj was face down in the water when he was spotted by a 12-year-old swimming with her 10-year-old sister.

Both girls' video interviews with police in the wake of Suraj's death were played in court and they both answered questions via video link yesterday. Jurors heard the younger girl was a weaker swimmer and called to her sister 'look here, there's something wrong with this boy' before swimming into the shallower water where she was comfortable.

Her elder sister then described how she lifted his arm and it 'flopped' back down.

The elder sister, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said during her police interview: "The boy was rocking in the water when I swam past him. His head was under the water, facing towards the deep end. His legs were underneath his arms. I lifted his arm and it was floppy in the water."

As the interview was played back, sobs could be heard from the public gallery.

The elder girl added: "There was bubbly foam coming out of his mouth. His eyes were open and really white. I was panicking. He didn't look like he was breathing.

"The lifeguard was standing and then she was talking. I called her and said excuse me. She didn't hear me. She heard me the second time. There were lots of people talking so I had to shout.

"Then the lifeguard dived in and picked him up and carried him in her arms. He didn't have armbands on.

"His mum was where my aunty was watching us. She shouted 'that's my son, that's my son'."

The court earlier heard Woods, now aged 31 and of Woodland Avenue, Tettenhall Wood, had been talking to a man, Barry King, before diving into the pool. The trial continues.