H and I took dds (7and8) for their weekly swimming lesson. There's a half hour interval in between, and dd2 goes first. She's just been moved up a level and had obviously made friends with one of the girls in her group. I had noticed that dd2 was larking around a lot more in her lesson, and made a mental note to tell her to listen and concentrate on what the coach is saying, but was happy that she was enjoying herself. After she'd come out, we were all sitting in the viewing area waiting for dd1's lesson. I went to the loo, came back and dd2 was nowhere to be seen. H said she was playing with her new friend and I went looking for them and they were fine.
While we were waiting I went and got us all a drink. When I returned, dd2 was sitting on her own, and told me H had run off with dd2.
They returned, H, dd2 and her new friend. What happened beggars belief. Her new friend had taken her up to the viewing gallery for the squash courts. Friend told dd2 she did gymnastics. She sat on top of the concrete wall separating the viewing area from the courts, and had slipped down. I later learnt that dd2 had believed she could get herself up, then, when she realised she couldn't, tried to help her herself. Imagine - a 7yo in that situation. It's a bloody long drop down, and she was only holding on by the palms of her hands. So, she ran and got H.
He later said it must have taken a good minute for dd2 to get to him and for him to get up to the squash viewing area. All she'd said was 'Come quickly Daddy' and as I wasn't there I'm not sure he realised straight away the gravity/urgency of the situation.
They returned, H said 'Don't take your eyes off these two'. Her mum returned, said 'Come on XXXX, time to go' and as our jaws were still hanging around our ankles didn't have a chance to tell the mother about it.
DD2 says she never wants to go swimming again. She was still talking about it this morning. There was no one in any of the three courts - I dread to think what could have happened.
Sorry that was so long.