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Grandmother breaks arm in paddling pool wall slip

5:30pm Wednesday 18th August 2010 in News By Paul Offord

On the mend – Mary Chalk, with daughter Sherina On the mend – Mary Chalk, with daughter Sherina

A GRANDMOTHER broke her wrist in three places after slipping off the wall of a seaside paddling pool.

Mary Chalk, 63, visited the pool on Canvey seafront with her five grandchildren, daughter Sherina, 37, and other family and friends.

The pool, one of two on Concord Beach, is known by locals as the “new” pool because it underwent renovation work in 2007.

Mary’s grandsons, aged 18, 11 and five, and her ten-year-old granddaughter set off along the rocky wall around the pool, which is covered in slippery seaweed, to reach some other children who were crabbing.

The five year-old slipped, but was grabbed and lifted to safety by his eldest brother.

The shock of seeing her grandson lose his balance caused Mrs Chalk, who had gone with them, to fall into the pool, where she landed awkwardly and broke her wrist in three places.

She said: “It is not safe at all. They shouldn’t let anyone, adults or children, along that wall.

“It is just waiting for a child to slip over and kill themselves.

“I’m just glad it happened to me and not one of my grandchildren.”

Mrs Chalk, from Enfield, was rushed to Basildon Hospital and her arm is now in a plaster cast.

Her son Lee, 41, who went to try and help his mum after she fell, also slipped on the wall and cut his hand on a shell, but did not need medical treatment.

Sherina Chalk, from Orsett, said: “It was so upsetting.

“My poor mum was in so much pain, but she tried to keep her wrist under the water so the children couldn’t see how badly it was broken.

“We certainly won’t be taking our family down there again.”

Andrew Smith, contracts officer at Castle Point Council, said: “We are very sorry to hear about Mrs Chalk’s accident. This is the first we have heard about it, as it was not reported to us.

“There are safety signs at the pool, but it is a matter of common sense for users and parents to see that some areas are covered by the natural growth of weed and to be careful. After all, this is a beach.”

Comments(39)

Horace Wimpole says...
5:38pm Wed 18 Aug 10

Sorry, why is this news? Accidents happen. Live with it.

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Nigel Watson says...
5:40pm Wed 18 Aug 10

Is that Letchford in the pink tracksuit?

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upset says...
5:42pm Wed 18 Aug 10

Looks like there are Health & Safety issue at these pools like CPBC said.
I'm surprised there's no CIIP members in the photo and no quote from the pool campaigners. Oh no this is the one they want open, thats why there not mentioned.

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Seasider90 says...
5:45pm Wed 18 Aug 10

Green seaweed clearly evident equals slippery wall. It's natural and part of the environment. Strange how thousands of people uses these pools over the summer and no one else manages to slip. Kids should be under parental care and guidance. Simple as that. It's called responsibilty.

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RobertFS says...
5:54pm Wed 18 Aug 10

be more careful in future. life is full of dangers - just look and see. don't make a fuss but i hope the lady recovers quickly

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Sir Benfleet says...
6:05pm Wed 18 Aug 10

No one wishes an accident on anyone, BUT this was an accident and just that, they happen every day, and a paddling pool will have seaweed making it splippery. It is no ones fault, and a new pool would have the same risk.
Hope the lady recovers quickly.

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John T Pharro says...
6:17pm Wed 18 Aug 10

This is the pool to be kept. The one the residents want to keep has a good safety record and the Council want to close it for "safety reasons".
Am I missing something here?

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gitreal says...
7:37pm Wed 18 Aug 10

my nan is the same age but looks better LOL. She never has a sour puss look on her face

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essex beaufighter says...
8:27pm Wed 18 Aug 10

gitreal wrote:
my nan is the same age but looks better LOL. She never has a sour puss look on her face
That's because she is reading your posts, they keep a smile on my face too!

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SARFENDMAN says...
8:34pm Wed 18 Aug 10

Looks like "FIND BLAME MAKE A CLAIM WEEK". Had the near miss at Southend Hospital and now this?! Waiting for number 3. What's coming next? Struck by a meteorite? Sue Big G?

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buttonbaggins says...
9:20pm Wed 18 Aug 10

Heaven's to Betsy, has this woman no common sense?
Seaweed is slippery when wet!!!!
It was an accident stop moaning and get on with your life and think yourself lucky you can enjoy a nice day out at the seaside!

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anon anon says...
9:39pm Wed 18 Aug 10

chavs

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essex beaufighter says...
10:55pm Wed 18 Aug 10

buttonbaggins wrote:
Heaven's to Betsy, has this woman no common sense? Seaweed is slippery when wet!!!! It was an accident stop moaning and get on with your life and think yourself lucky you can enjoy a nice day out at the seaside!
A nice day at the seaside? Sorry, did I miss read this as I thought the accident happened on Canvey.

Anyhow, hope she makes a speedy recovery.

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Steve H says...
12:02am Thu 19 Aug 10

Oh no slippery seaweed by the sea!!

Whatever next, slippery ice on the pavements in winter???

Wet water in puddles after rain??

FFS people, take some responsiblities for your own actions, why does it always have to be someone elses fault!!

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el caballero de la noche says...
7:15am Thu 19 Aug 10

Only an idiot would walk where it is obviously green and slippery.

OR someone stupid.

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GreatDixter says...
7:32am Thu 19 Aug 10

They always say you should take a long hard look at the mother before you marry the daughter.

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Benfleet Bootboy says...
8:16am Thu 19 Aug 10

I can smell a compensation claim on the way

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r6keith says...
8:52am Thu 19 Aug 10

Benfleet Bootboy wrote:
I can smell a compensation claim on the way
Who against God or Neptune.

I know the mother has broken her arm but mother and daughter look a right bundle of laughs.

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anon anon says...
9:08am Thu 19 Aug 10

GreatDixter wrote:
They always say you should take a long hard look at the mother before you marry the daughter.
hahahah , dont think u need to look at 'mum' to make your mind up !!!!!

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dhd says...
9:38am Thu 19 Aug 10

There really isn't any need to comment on peoples appearances, apart from just being plain rude it's not what the story is about. How people have the cheek to talk about other peoples mothers when there own obviously haven't brought them up with any manners.

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'V' says...
10:48am Thu 19 Aug 10

She chose to walk along the wall. How on Earth does she boil a kettle, cook a meal, cross a road, or walk up stairs?
If she is not intelligent enough to assess a possible risk then perhaps she should stay indoors the rest of her life.

She's a product of an over nannied population.

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juba3 says...
10:56am Thu 19 Aug 10

She said: “It is not safe at all. They shouldn’t let anyone, adults or children, along that wall. It is just waiting for a child to slip over and kill themselves."

How typical. Always someone else's fault. Can't anyone take responsbility for their own actions these days? I've got eyes in my head and if it looks dangerous or slippery, I won't let me children go near it. Simples.

I'm not completely callous though and I hope the lady has a speedy recovery.

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borncanveybird says...
11:57am Thu 19 Aug 10

Seems to me child protection should be called this woman is not capable of looking after minors. Can she not read or does she have no sense these pools have been here for years and bought much fun to children and families of the years, suddenly there are petitions to keep the pools open and everyone jumps on the band wagon and looking for compensation. rushed to hospital wans that in an ambulance another waste of time. Sort yourself out woman and at least smile there are people in worse situations

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See-the-real says...
12:25pm Thu 19 Aug 10

Echo Photographer: - I'm going to tske a photo in a minute, so try and look as sad as you can.
.
SNAP!
.
Echo photographer: - I said sad, not vacant. And stop doing that Emu impression with your arm.

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VocalVoice says...
5:01pm Thu 19 Aug 10

This world has lost its common sense. I remember going to the seaside when I was younger and climbing on rocks. If my parents saw me they would tell me to get off but if I slipped it was my own fault.

Water against rock causes algae and with the added seaweed it is going to be slippery. She should never have walked on there as anyone can see it is slippery.

Excellent response from the council! Glad to see they are being strong over this. Also note the lack of councillors in the photo and lack of responses on here from the save our pool people!

Keep looking at that picture...Classic!

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marshman says...
5:45pm Thu 19 Aug 10

I don't know why everyone's using this as an opportunity to have a go at the poor woman and the pool campaigners.

She's had a very nasty accident and broken her wrist in 3 places. How does that give anyone the right to have a go at her? Poor lady, it's ruined her image of Canvey beach and I'll be surprised if she returns - and that's a shame. Hope she makes a speedy recovery and isn't left with any permanent damage.

I suppose the pool campaigners are quiet because this just underlies what they've been trying to say. The 'new' pool, the one the council favours, IS dangerous. She's lucky she fell inwards. There's at least a twenty foot drop the other way. It's an accident that been waiting to happen for years. I really don't know why money was wasted on this pool. No one likes it and no one wants it. Maybe one of the councillors who likes seeing their name in print in these columns could give us an explanation as to why they support this pool and want to bulldoze the other?

They must have their reasons, please tell us.

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thelonewhinger says...
5:50pm Thu 19 Aug 10

key word in this story is "wall". I would guess that the "wall" was put there to form a barrier between the pool and the foreshore. It is not a "pathway" - hence not intended to be walked-on.
This foolish woman not only went on it herself but took young people with her, setting a bad example.
Verdict misadventure.....

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Horace Wimpole says...
6:34pm Thu 19 Aug 10

The 'new' pool, the one the council favours, IS dangerous. She's lucky she fell inwards. There's at least a twenty foot drop the other way. It's an accident that been waiting to happen for years.
She was walking on a wall. It's her fault she got hurt. End of story.

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VocalVoice says...
11:06am Fri 20 Aug 10

'There's at least a 20ft drop the other side'

That is in no way 20ft.

As everyone has said it is a WALL not a footpath and its also a WALL that is regularly covered with water that creates slime, algae and holds seaweed. It is complete common sense that this wall should not be walked on so its about time some of these people started using it or found some!

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Partyboy2 says...
12:25pm Fri 20 Aug 10

Yeah but, No but, Yeah but, No but.....

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tom.jea says...
2:44pm Fri 20 Aug 10

Yes, it is a wall not a pathway, and yes it is obvious to the eye that is is slippery.
On the other hand, it used to be much safer before Castle Point Borough Council carried out work which 'domed' the wall (it used to be flatter and much safer to walk on).
They also put the concrete base in which causes the algae and raised the base to about knee height so anyone who slips can go over the wall.
The pool campaigners are not being quiet about this pool- they have said it needs to be put right- but they can only do so much, and they are trying to save the other (square) pool, because it is that one threatened with demolition. If that one goes many more people will be using the triangular one.

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Horace Wimpole says...
11:24pm Fri 20 Aug 10

The pool campaigners are not being quiet about this pool…
Hang on, hang on... "pool campaigners"?

For the love of William, are there not other things they could fill their time with?

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ShipShape says...
10:36am Sat 21 Aug 10

Horace Wimpole wrote:
The pool campaigners are not being quiet about this pool…
Hang on, hang on... "pool campaigners"?

For the love of William, are there not other things they could fill their time with?
They're very serious, Horace. They're having a sit-in when the weather improves.

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Horace Wimpole says...
10:46am Sat 21 Aug 10

They're very serious, Horace. They're having a sit-in when the weather improves.
Comment of the week! :-)

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Steve H says...
10:20am Mon 23 Aug 10

A bit late to this.

Just read another contributer mention that CPBC carried out work to 'dome' this wall.

Common sense would tell you that this work was carried out as an attempt to stop people walking on it!!!!

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richomack360 says...
1:34pm Mon 23 Aug 10

"The shock of seeing her grandson lose his balance caused Mrs Chalk, who had gone with them, to fall into the pool, where she landed awkwardly and broke her wrist in three places."

Oh shut up, what a load of complete and utter twaddle.

Honestly, blame culture is rife but this takes the biscuit.

YOU fell in because YOU were not paying attention !

What ever next - you fell head first into a wedding cake because you were in shock over the price of it ?

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richomack360 says...
1:37pm Mon 23 Aug 10

Also the shock of reading this daft story has made me fall off my chair - so I am going to blame Echo News and the two Vickie Pollards in the picture.

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richomack360 says...
1:41pm Mon 23 Aug 10

"She said: “It is not safe at all. They shouldn’t let anyone, adults or children, along that wall. "

Okay, put up the barbed wire and watch towers, guess the danger signs are not enough...or did you not read the warning signs..or did you not think "slippery rocks, I shouldn't let me kids on them"

I'm sorry, but this story is complete nonsense, its irritating that this buffoon has been given media coverage

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MitchLive says...
1:58pm Mon 23 Aug 10

richomack360 wrote:
Also the shock of reading this daft story has made me fall off my chair - so I am going to blame Echo News and the two Vickie Pollards in the picture.
Seeing as Richomack360 sent me a link to this outragously stupid news article, thus making me fall of my chair, I shall be suing Richomack.

You'll be hearing from my solicitor young sir.

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