SnowDome Fined After Death of 12-Year Old Boy
27th February 2025
Louis Watkiss died after an accident on the slope. The indoor centre in Tamworth was fined for breaching health and safety regulations. NEW
The incident happened in September 2021 as we reported at the time on PlanetSKI.
Louis was at a friend’s birthday tobogganing party and crashed with the centre’s operations manager who fell backwards onto him.
Louis suffered skull fractures and died at the scene.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found SnowDome Limited failed to ensure the safety of its customers while they were undertaking tobogganing at the venue.
Telford Magistrates’ Court has fined the company £100,000.
It was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £14,534.20.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Kevin Grego said the SnowDome had failed to conduct safe provision of activities, including tobogganing.
The family is highly critical of the punishment.
“We want to thank HSE (Health Safety Executive) for getting a prosecution, even though the fine is ridiculous and is not appropriate to a child’s death,” said Louis’ father Chris outside the court.
“You don’t expect your child to go to a leisure centre, wind up dead, and there be no custodial sentence – just a fine, a slap on the wrist and get on with it.”
He added that the justice system was “flawed in so many ways and I think that’s just been demonstrated today”.
In a statement, the Directors of the SnowDome said:
“Louis Watkiss should have returned safely to his family after tobogganing at the SnowDome. The fact that he didn’t is something for which we will be forever remorseful.”
“We know we can never change what has happened, and this heart-breaking knowledge is why we have always accepted full responsibility for this terrible tragedy.
“Louis and his family are constantly in our thoughts, and he will never be forgotten by anyone at the SnowDome.”
Image c/o SnowDome
The HSE investigation also found that SnowDome did not have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for tobogganing activities and had not fully considered all persons likely to be on the slope during the activity.
As a result, there was no safe system of work, information, instruction, training or supervision to manage the risk of collisions between toboggans and pedestrians.
“Louis went to a friend’s birthday party at the SnowDome and should have returned home safely to his family after an enjoyable occasion,” said a senior enforcement lawyer for HSE, Nathan Cook.
“Tragically, due to the failings of SnowDome Limited, this did not happen. Louis’s death could have been prevented if the company had adequately assessed and controlled the risks associated with tobogganing activities.
“This should act as a reminder that venues and employers must ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are in place and employees are provided with sufficient safe systems of work, information, instructions, training, and supervision.”
An inquest into his death will be held next year.
A GoFundMe page set up by Louis’ family to support their needs and help raise money for charities Louis supported has raised £14,135 in donations.
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