The parents of a young boy who tragically lost his life in an incident at an indoor ski slope expressed their devastation after being denied the opportunity for an official inquiry into his passing.
Natalie and Chris Watkiss shared their feelings outside the South Staffordshire Coroner’s Court in Stafford following the announcement by coroner Fiona Gingell that there would not be a formal investigation into the death of their son, Louis. The 12-year-old had been participating in a tobogganing session at the SnowDome when a staff member named Joseph Dibb entered the slope area, leading to a fatal collision.
During a friend’s birthday party, Louis was tobogganing down the slope when Mr. Dibb, who was acting as the manager that evening, ventured onto the slope to address an ice block. However, Mr. Dibb was not wearing a high-visibility jacket and was walking in the opposite direction of the toboggan riders, inadvertently crossing paths with Louis. The resulting collision caused severe head injuries, which a pathologist deemed unsurvivable. Natalie and Chris have been advocating for justice for their son.
Following a Health and Safety Executive criminal investigation earlier this year, the SnowDome accepted responsibility for Louis’ death and was fined £100,000. The family had hoped for a formal inquiry to be conducted in a public setting to ensure lessons were learned from the tragedy.
Coroner Gingell stated that no further statutory investigation was necessary. An inquest serves a specific purpose of determining the circumstances of a death. Natalie and Chris expressed their devastation after the legal process and their pursuit for an inquest took a toll on them emotionally.
Natalie conveyed to BirminghamLive: “We are still in shock and we haven’t had chance to grieve because the whole system has taken that away from us. We haven’t been able to remember Louis for who he was because we just remember him in the system. So, we’re exhausted. We’re tired.”
She added, “We just need to need to rest now and spend time with our other beautiful son who has lost his parents for the last four years really. And actually had said to me ‘mummy, please when is this going to stop? I’m here and I need you.'”
Louis’ father, Chris, shared his anguish, stating, “Every minute, every hour, every day is just pure pain.” He expressed concerns about coping with the aftermath without a clear cause to fight for, anticipating a challenging road ahead.
The SnowDome was fined £100,000 by District Judge Kevin Grego and was directed to pay an additional £16,000 in costs. The family criticized the penalty as inadequate, labeling it as “ridiculous” and likening it to a mere “slap on the wrists.”
