Son’s swimming pool death ‘a living horror story’

Teresa and Malachy Rogers want answers about their son's death

The parents of a talented swimmer who died after he was found at the bottom of a leisure centre swimming pool have said they feel like they are living in a horror story.

Christopher Rogers was 20 when he died in April 2017.

His parents Teresa and Malachy said they have spent the past seven years “battling” to find out what happened to him.

Three lifeguards who were on duty at the Orchard Leisure Centre in Armagh the night Christopher died are to stand trial for breach of duty.

They each deny the charge against them, which is that “being an employee, [they] failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by [their] acts or omissions at work”.

At the time of his death, Christopher was studying biomedical sciences at Queen’s University Belfast.

He was a talented musician and, according to his parents, a strong swimmer.

Speaking to BBC News NI, they said he had previously swum competitively, including representing his university in varsity competitions.

Malachy said even as a child, Christopher, along with his two brothers, would swim in the sea while on holiday in Donegal.

He said they were like “wee fish”.

“You never gave it a second thought that they were in danger in the water because they were always great swimmers and they would always be able to look after themselves,” he said.

'He’s dead and he’s gone from us'

Christopher Rogers died in April 2017

It has been seven and a half years since Christopher died, yet legal proceedings are still ongoing.

For this reason, the BBC cannot go into detail about the circumstances around his death to avoid potentially prejudicing the forthcoming trial.

Teresa said: “At times you feel almost a sense of elation because you feel that you’re making progress to a certain extent, and you shouldn’t be feeling that elation because actually, the outcome of it is going to be the same – he’s dead and he’s gone from us.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland told the BBC that Christopher’s death was deemed non-suspicious immediately after the incident in April 2017.

The force said it carried out enquiries, including recording statements, on behalf of the coroner.

'They also lost us'

In January 2018, the incident was referred back to police by the Health and Safety Executive, which believed there was potential for criminal offences.

The investigation was taken forward on a joint basis.

Teresa and Malachy have two other sons who are now in their 20s.

Teresa said they had lost their “brother, friend and soul mate”.

“But they also lost us,” she said.

“They lost their parents really because we’re so focused on reasons why this happened. The quest for the truth. You know, what happened, how did it happen, why did it happen?”

'There’s an empty chair'

She described the night she received a call from the leisure centre, informing her of the incident.

“They said he was found at the bottom of the swimming pool,” Teresa said.

“At that moment I just felt as if I had a very, very intricate piece of embroidery or work, and it was just unravelling in front of me. I could feel my whole world collapsing in like a vortex.”

Malachy said he constantly relived that day.

“It has taken over our lives and I would go as far as to say it has ruined it,” he said.

“All the things you used to enjoy, you feel terribly guilty enjoying them because you know there’s a gap at the table every time you go to eat.

“When we sit in the living room, there’s an empty chair.”

Teresa said every day since losing Christopher was a fight for her mental health.

“It’s like living in a horror story. You’re living with stark horror every day,” she said.

“He went down to the pool for a swim. It was a normal thing for him to do and he comes home to you in a wooden box.

“He was a very kind, very lovable, beautiful young man. I can’t understand why this happened.”