Two men die at leisure centre in three days leaving staff 'saddened'

19 July 2023 , 13:39

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Two men died at Launceston Community Leisure Centre in three days (Image: Google Maps)

A leisure centre has been hit by tragedy following two deaths in three days, leaving staff “shocked and saddened”.

Both men at Launceston Community Leisure Centre, in Cornwall, received medical assistance after becoming unwell but could not be revived.

A man, who was a member of the leisure centre, had been swimming last Sunday and suffered a "medical episode" after leaving the pool.

Lifeguards and a nurse attended him before he was flown by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where he sadly died.

Two days later, on Tuesday, a man working in the park by the centre was found "collapsed and unresponsive." Staff attempted to revive him but he was confirmed dead by emergency services when they arrived.

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A Launceston Community Leisure Centre statement said: "Many of you are already aware that there have been two occasions in recent days where the emergency services and air ambulance have attended the leisure centre in Coronation Park.

"We can confirm that the first incident on Sunday, July 16, involved a leisure centre member who suffered a medical episode following his swim. The lifeguards, along with a nurse who was using the facility at the time, were able to assist him until the emergency services arrived.

"He was flown by Cornwall Air Ambulance to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. We were shocked and saddened to hear the news that his condition deteriorated later that day and he passed away in hospital.

"On Tuesday, July 18, leisure centre staff went to assist where a gentleman working in the park had been found collapsed and unresponsive. The leisure centre's AED defibrillator was used and lifeguards performed manual CPR, along with assistance from a member of the public, until the emergency services arrived.

"Distressingly he was confirmed deceased by the emergency services attending the scene."

The leisure centre thanked emergency services and offered condolences to the families of the two men who died.

"We would like to thank Cornwall Air Ambulance, Devon & Cornwall Police and South Western Ambulance Service for all their support, including checking on the welfare of the staff involved," it stated.

"We would also like to say how proud we are of the emergency response from the centre staff and, in particular, the lifeguards who assisted directly with these two extremely distressing incidents.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the two gentlemen involved at this very difficult time."

Tim Hanlon