Kylie Grimes Loses Compensation Claim
A woman who hit her head on the bottom of a swimming pool during a late-night party in Surrey has lost her claim for £6m damages in the High Court.
Kylie Grimes, now 23, of Stephendale Road, Farnham, was left paralysed after she dived into the pool in August 2006.
The pool owner David Hawkins, of Compton Way, denied liability and said he considered the pool safe.
Ms Grimes was paralysed from the chest down when she broke a vertebra below the base of her neck.
She claimed her injury was caused by Mr Hawkins’s negligence or breach of his duties under the Occupiers’ Liability Act.
Invited friends
The court heard in May that Mr Hawkins and his wife were away on the night of the accident, but their daughter Katie had asked her father to let her have a few friends over.
She said she did not invite Ms Grimes and did not expect people to go swimming, but did not know how to stop them, so turned the lights on for their safety.
She also said no accident had ever happened in the 30ft (9m) pool which had a deep end of less than 6ft (1.8m).
Philip Mott QC, for Ms Grimes, said the pool house should have been locked or there should have been warning notices.
He said Ms Grimes was “clearly” invited back and was lent swimming kit by Ms Hawkins.
Same Difference 