What happened?

Max Palmer, a 10 year old Lancashire schoolboy, died while ‘plunge pooling’ during an activity weekend. His mother and another pupil were airlifted to hospital.

Where?

Glenridding in Cumbria

When?

May 2002

Why?

The weather was poor. The stream was in spate. The water was very cold. And, most of all, there were serious deficiencies by the party leader in planning and leading the activity.

How?

The plunge pooling session involved jumping 4 metres into a rock pool in a mountain stream and swimming to an exit point. The group leader jumped in first. He said it was alright. Soon afterwards, Max jumped in. As soon as he surfaced, he was in difficulties and unable to get out. The leader jumped in to rescue him but, after several minutes, was overcome by the cold. Max’s mother, who was accompanying the visit, also attempted a rescue, but she too was gradually overcome by the cold. She was rescued by a pupil who also suffered from hypothermia. Both he and the mother were airlifted to hospital. Max was washed over the weir at the exit to the pool and tumbled down the raging beck.

He was pulled out by other pupils, but pronounced dead at the scene.