Two councils have been fined a combined five-figure sum after a young boy was found unconscious at Stonehaven open air pool.
The 11-year-old required a prolonged period of hospital treatment after he was spotted under the water in 2012.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils admitted health and safety breaches and were fined £9,000 and £4,000 respectively at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
The boy was on a school trip from Ferryhill Primary in Aberdeen, and depute fiscal Shona Nicholson said the risk assessment carried out by the teacher was not suitable.
Neither she nor her colleagues had received training on risk assessments.
She added: “It would have been reasonable to expect the teacher to consider the swimming ability of the children attending the excursion in her risk assessment and this was also required of her under her duties as excursion leader.
“However, this was not checked effectively as whilst a letter was sent home which indicated that the excursion would involve attending at the pool there was no questions asked in relation to the children’s swimming abilities.”
The boy was taken to hospital in Aberdeen before being transferred to a specialist unit in Edinburgh, while the pool closed for a fortnight ahead of the implementation of safety changes.
His father later told the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) his son could not swim.
The Aberdeenshire authority was found at fault when an HSE-commissioned report found the council had failed to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment leading to insufficient lifeguard numbers and the inappropriate positioning of lifeguards.
The court heard underwater cameras have been installed and a daily mannequin test is carried out to make sure visibility is good enough to open the pool.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “The corporate excursion policy which was in place at the time of the incident has been reviewed and further strengthened, and robust procedures are now in place.”
A colleague at Aberdeenshire Council said: “We are relieved that the pupil made a full recovery and would reiterate that the pool staff at Stonehaven outdoor pool responded swiftly and appropriately in response to the incident.
“Aberdeenshire Council fully complied with the Health and Safety Executive throughout the duration of the investigation and immediately put in place additional policies and practices after the event in 2012 to ensure the continuing safety of those using the facility at all times.”