Overview

• Ben Woods, 21, was found unresponsive in the King Evelthon Beach Hotel pool in July 2022 and later died; a UK inquest has now confirmed the cause of death as acute pneumonia due to aspiration.
• The Manchester West Coroner's Court recorded an accidental death verdict, noting Woods was a competent swimmer who was medically fit at the time of the incident.
• Investigations revealed the hotel pool lacked a proper operating license, and lifeguards failed to notice Woods due to obstructed sightlines and alleged distractions on their phones.
• Emergency response shortcomings included an untrained lifeguard struggling to use a defibrillator and an ambulance staffed by drivers rather than paramedics, leading to significant delays.
• The Woods family continues to advocate for accountability, citing systemic failures in safety regulations and emergency procedures at the hotel, where three pool deaths have occurred in five years.