Bit of a long story but should I have said something?
DP, SIL and I took DS swimming yesterday. Our local pool has a wave machine that they put on and off. 2 mins before it is switched on they have a siren to warn non-swimmers to move to the shallow end. Also they have signs up prohibiting non-swimmers from going past a certain depth (approx chest height for me).
So we were round about the depth warning signs with DS in his inflatable ring while we were waiting for the waves to start when I noticed a man with a girl (about 8-10 year old I guess) right out in the deep end. They were very obvious because most of the other people in the pool were behind us in the shallower bit. the girl was obviously scared, red faced, crying, arms round the mans neck clinging onto him and she was shaking her head at him.
When the waves started the man turned the girl away from him and pushed her off basically forcing her to swim. He seemed to have hold of her under the water and never got far away from her but she was obviously terrified and very upset as she struggled along for a few strokes.
I lost track of them after this as we played with DS until they passed by us on their way to the shallow end. While they were just beside us (out of depth of the girl) the man again pushed the girl away from him, she was swamped rapidly by two waves, came up from them spluttering and by this stage almost screaming. He then grabbed her and dragged away.
He seemed to be of the thinking that if he forced her, then she would naturally swim but at no time did he offer her any encouragement or even smile/laugh/try to make it fun.
I have never been more tempted to comment on someone else's parenting (assuming they were father/daughter) but I didnt. I'm not normally a confrontational person but I couldnt see any benefit in his actions and in fact think it more likely she will be traumatised and possibly fear water and swimming. It was very distressing to watch and obviously even more so for her.
Should I have said/done something?