Father's Anguish Over Lack of Accountability in Daughter's Swimming Tragedy
Handsam School Trips Advisor
Tony Lawson, the grieving father of a 12-year-old girl who tragically lost her life during a school trip to France, has expressed his frustration at the lack of accountability for the incident. Jessica Lawson perished while swimming in a lake near Limogoes almost a decade ago, under the supervision of three teachers from Wolfreton School in Willeby, East Yorkshire, along with a lifeguard on duty. Despite facing trial for manslaughter by gross negligence in October 2022, all defendants were acquitted.
Expressing his mounting frustration, Tony has voiced his distress at feeling disregarded by those responsible for Jessica's care and questions why he cannot seek answers from those entrusted with his daughter's safety. He has pointed out a lack of transparency surrounding the circumstances of her demise. Recounting the heartbreaking moment when they received a call informing them of Jessica's accident, Tony equated the lack of accountability to a dismissive attitude, akin to brushing off responsibility with legal jargon.
During the trial, it was revealed that Jessica was among several children swimming when a pontoon they were on capsized. Despite efforts to summon the children back to shore, Jessica went missing until lifeguard Leo Lemaire retrieved her from the water. However, she succumbed to her injuries the following day.
School trip leader Stephen Layne informed Judge Marie-Sophie Waguette that he believed the pontoon served as a "safety feature" for swimmers in the three-metre-deep water. However, the court learned that it was not adequately secured. Ms Waguette cleared teachers Steven Layne, Chantelle Lewis and Daisy Stathers stating that she did not believe the defendants "were under obligation to carry out any specific checks." and a lifeguard was on duty. She added "We don't know why her drowning took place at the time when the platform turned over. There is therefore no evidence to show that they were negligent, therefore you are found not guilty."
Tony, aged 63, condemns the alleged efforts to delay his family's appeal against the verdict, which was scheduled six months ago. Establishing the Jessica Lawson Foundation in memory of their beloved daughter, they aimed to extend support to other grieving parents.
Despite numerous attempts to seek closure and accountability, Tony and Brenda's quest for justice remains unfulfilled, leaving them grappling with the profound loss of their beloved daughter and the unanswered questions surrounding her untimely passing.