An eight-year-old boy who drowned during an adventure holiday was terrified of water and could not swim, an inquest heard.

Jack Sudds was found floating in an open-air swimming pool at Broadstone Warren Scout Camp near Forest Row, on August 16 last year.

He was visiting the camp with the Middle Park Play Scheme, a charity group based on a council estate in Greenwich in London.

Jack, one of 28 children to attend the week-long holiday, had never been away from home on his own before.

The inquest at Uckfield heard Jack's parents had never been asked by staff at the play scheme if the youngster could swim although they did know swimming was among activities on offer at Broadstone Warren.

Jack's father James Sudds told East Sussex coroner Alan Craze that his son had been looking forward to going on the trip.

He said: "Jack was a typical boy, a bit mischievous, who enjoyed making people laugh. He was bright. He had no problems at school.

"It was the first time Jack had been away on his own. We had to fill in a form and it did say swimming gear on the clothing list. We were not asked if he could swim.

"Jack was terrified of water. He could not swim, he had never tried.

Regulations

"He would never have tried it on his own. He would not even have tried with other people around."

The inquest heard from play scheme workers that children on the trip were told about strict rules and regulations, which included not entering restricted areas on the camp.

Middle Park, 25 years old this year, set up its own facilities, such as tents and a central marquee, at Broadstone Warren, but also used facilities, including the swimming pool, that were managed by the Scout Association.

On the day Jack died, the group was taken swimming but not all took part. Some went off and played football. Play scheme workers Matt Lloyd and Janice Walters said they could not recall seeing Jack that afternoon.They both said they were unaware Jack could not swim.

When the group left the pool, Mrs Walters said she was told by the pool's lifeguard, employed by the Scout Association, that he would lock up the pool.

Later in the day, Mr Lloyd, from Greenwich, who has worked for the play scheme for 17 years, said he noticed a hole in the fence that surrounded the pool.

He said: "It was big enough for me to get through."

Linda Corbell, leader of the grant-aided Middle Park Play Scheme, said a "tremendous" amount of thought had gone into safety on the trips.

She said: "I consider the pool to be a restricted area."

Jack was flown by air ambulance to Eastbourne District General Hospital but despite attempts to resuscitate him, he died.

The hearing continues.

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