The Toronto Star recently reported that a woman drowned in a Toronto condo pool on the weekend. Based on the information contained in the Toronto Star article, certain aspects of this drowning are similar to those in the case of Laila Nader, who died in a condo pool in Ohio, which we previously blogged about. In both cases the deceased were reportedly good swimmers, there was no lifeguard on duty and the pool was monitored by video surveillance. CTV News reported that the Toronto woman died during an episode of medical distress. Presumably the police will be reviewing the pool video.
This drowning raises a number of questions:
- Were there warning signs in the pool advising that swimmers swim at their own risk?
- Were there any signs advising that the pool was under video surveillance?
- Was the pool equipment functioning properly?
- Should condo corporations be required to have lifeguards?
- What was the purpose of the video surveillance and did this impose any duty of care on the condominium corporation as it relates to the safety of swimmers?
Unless there is a coroner’s inquest or litigation related to this drowning, some of these questions may go unanswered.