TUI confirms gov’t not liable for swimming pool death

The Court of Final Appeal (TUI) has ruled that a contracted lifesaving company must compensate the family of a 26-year-old local who drowned in the Carmo Swimming Pool in June 2006.
Court documents suggested that the Court of First Instance ruled in 2010 that the lifesaver who was on duty when the accident occurred was not guilty of negligent homicide.  As such, the damage claim brought by the victim’s parents against the lifesaver was rejected. However, the Court ruled that the Macau government and the lifesaving company must compensate the family a total of MOP3.49 million.
All three parties launched appeals after the sentencing, landing the case in the Court of Second Instance (TSI). The TSI ruled that the Macau government, as the owner of the pool, was not liable, but confirmed that the lifesaving company must bear responsibility. Nevertheless, the TSI reduced the amount of compensation owed by MOP1.88 million.
The family then appealed the case to the TUI, which also confirmed that the lifesaving company is the only party liable for the accident. The TUI has increased the compensation stipulated by the TSI by MOP200,000.