Snowdome fined the boy’s sled death £ 100K

An indoor ski center has been fined £ 100,000 after the death of a 12 -year -old boy.

Louis Vatis from Sutton Coldfield occurred after being injured in a confrontation with a member of staff during a Toboganing Party with friends on 24 September 2021 at Snamworth, Tamworth, Staffordshire.

After an investigation, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) accused Snowdome Limited of violating health and safety rules.

The firm convicted and was sentenced in a hearing in the Telford Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

It was also ordered to pay a victim overload of £ 2,000 and a cost of £ 14,534.20.

After the hearing, HSE stated that Louis was descending on the main ski slope on a Tobogan, when he slipped behind a member of the employees operating a slope.

HSE said the staff member fell backwards on Louis, who died on the spot due to head injuries.

A joint investigation with Staffordshire police found that Snowdome Limited had failed to ensure their customers’ safety.

It was also found that there was not enough risk evaluation for Toboganing activities, and that the firm “fully considered all individuals to be on the slope during Toboganing”.

HSE Senior Enforcement Advocate Nathan Cook said: “Louis had gone to a friend’s birthday party in Snowdome and should have safely returned home for his family after a pleasant occasion.

“Sadly, due to the failures of Snowdom Limited, this did not happen. Louis could be prevented if the company adequately evaluated and controlled the risks associated with Toboganing activities.”

He said that the case should act as a reminder to the venue to ensure that the appropriate risk assessment is there.

Louis’s parents Chris and Natalie Watis Have spoken before About how he was called about the incident and initially it was believed that it was a minor injury.

Mr. Watis said that Louis, a talented saxophoneist, was declared dead in front of him within a few minutes of reaching his son’s favor.

“I kept with him for a while, told him that he was a good boy and how much I loved him,” he told the BBC.

Sri and Mrs. Watis have since called for changes in law to make the helmet mandatory during similar activities.