Fight to save pool girl recalled

Laura McDairmant died during an adventure holiday in 2006

An inquiry has heard how a hospital trauma team fought to save a teenager injured in a "pool jumping" activity.

Laura McDairmant, 15, from Carlisle, fell onto rocks near Black Loch in Dumfries and Galloway in July 2006.

A fatal accident inquiry has heard how she died a day after being admitted to Dumfries Infirmary.

Dr Paul Jefferson told Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court she had been revived but very little could have been done to save the girl. The inquiry continues.

Dr Jefferson, a consultant anaesthetist at Dumfries Infirmary, said Ms McDairmant had suffered a cardiac arrest soon after arriving in hospital.

He said this was likely to have caused brain damage in addition to the injuries she suffered in the fall.

He added that Ms McDairmant had been revived and the fight to save her had gone on throughout the night but admitted that, in his opinion, very little could have been done to save her.

The Cumbrian teenager was on a week-long adventure holiday at the Barcaple Centre at Ringford when she died.

She was taking part in an activity which involves leaping from height into deep water.

However, the jump went wrong and she fell onto rocks and died a day later in hospital.

Two instructors who had been supervising at the time were cleared of any blame at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court last year.

Camp operators, the Abernethy Trust, were fined £16,000 after admitting failing to manage the risks involved with the activity.