Violinist drowned ‘after three lifeguards failed to identify him’

 An achieved violinist drowned within the swallow finish of a swimming pool ‘after three lifeguards failed to identify him underwater for nearly seven minutes.’ 

Dominic Hopkins, 57, was swimming at University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Sportspark on January 27 2022 when he received into problem within the pool. 

The former chief of Norwich Philharmonic was given CPR and resuscitated earlier than he was taken by air ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. 

Mr Hopkins died the next day on January 28 2022. 

The inquest into his loss of life at Norwich Coroners Court heard that heard proof that he was below the water for ‘six minutes and 38 seconds.’ The court docket additionally heard that glare from lights and home windows on the water of the pool might have been why lifeguards didn’t see him immobile within the water.

Accomplished violinist Dominic Hopkins (pictured) died after moving into problem whereas swimming  at University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Sportspark. An inquest heard that three lifeguards ‘failed to identify him underwater’ 

Mr Hopkins was the chief of Norwich Philharmonic between 2008 and 2016. In a tribute the orchestra stated: ‘He was an exceptionally advantageous violinist and a passionate musician, much-loved by all of us’

University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Sportspark (Google maps). The inquest into Mr Hopkins’ loss of life heard that glare from lights and home windows on the water of the pool might have been why lifeguards didn’t see him immobile within the water

Giving proof, Peter Jefferson-Wall, who was certainly one of a number of ‘informal’ lifeguards on the time of the incident, stated: ‘Glare is a significant danger in all swimming swimming pools.

‘As it was a very long time in the past, I can’t recall if there was glare – going off the info I’m going to say there was glare as I didn’t see him.

‘There had been a good few folks within the pool, so the water was transferring quite a bit – glare apart, a number of swimming occurring within the water can have an effect on visibility quite a bit.’

It was defined to the court docket that every lifeguard would sit in a chair, two fitted with 9 underwater cameras every.

Each lifeguard would rotate chairs each 20 minutes, with a break from monitoring the pool each 40 minutes.

It was throughout a handover interval at 2.55pm that they had been alerted by one other swimmer that Mr Hopkins was immobile on the pool flooring.

He had been swimming within the shallow finish of the pool, which might have been ‘no deeper than 1.35m’ on the time.

While the pool was emptied, the lifeguards retrieved Mr Hopkins from the water and began CPR.

Mr Jefferson-Wall stated the lifeguard on the camera-free chair might request permission from a supervisor to stroll the poolside with a float in the event that they could not see effectively.

Oliver Hall, a UEA pupil who was additionally working as a ‘informal’ lifeguard on the time, stated that typically there could be ‘pockets’ of glare which didn’t cowl giant areas.

Since Mr Hopkins loss of life, a system which makes use of synthetic intelligence has been put in place, in addition to a movie added to the home windows to scale back glare.

An announcement from his household confirmed that he was epileptic and was identified with Marfan syndrome, a dysfunction of the physique’s connective tissues.

Mr Hopkins was a well-known face on Norwich’s busking scene throughout the Eighties when he carried out with a classical music group on London Street. Born and raised in Norwich, he was additionally a former pupil at UEA the place at 27 he studied Mathematics and earnt a firstclass diploma

To assist with this situation, the musician would swim ‘nearly every day’.

A witness, who helped Mr Hopkins out of the pool, stated she had seen him on the ground of the pool however initially assumed he had been endeavor breath-holding workouts.

She alerted the lifeguards as quickly as she realised Mr Hopkins was in difficulties.

Friend Lucy Holden, who attended the inquest, stated: ‘It simply appears fairly troublesome to know that he was proper in entrance of them and never have been seen.

‘So, I suppose the glare was there, however [they] had been unaware of it.’

Mr Hopkins was the ‘a lot cherished’ chief of Norfolk Philharmonic from 2008 to 2016. In a tribute the orchestra stated: ‘He was an exceptionally advantageous violinist and a passionate musician, much-loved by all of us.’

He was a well-known face on Norwich’s busking scene throughout the Eighties when he carried out with a classical music group on London Street. 

Born and raised in Norwich, Mr Hopkins was additionally a former pupil at UEA the place at 27 he studied Mathematics and earnt a firstclass diploma. 

A UEA spokesperson stated: ‘Following this incident, a full investigation happened. Where required, steps had been taken to strengthen and replace present procedures and new know-how was launched. UEA Sportspark has cooperated with and helps the Coroner’s findings and conclusion. 

The HSE investigated this incident and located the UEA complied with good practise and adhered with the then present steerage.’