The lawyer for a couple whose toddler drowned at a Perth family day care centre have called on the state government to ban swimming pools within the entire sector.
Lachlan James Mitchell was two days shy of his third birthday on November 10, 2015 when he was found floating face-down in a Carramar family day care centre's in-ground pool.
The WA Coroner's Court has heard he had been left alone outside for seven minutes while the operator tried to settle a baby she was also caring for, and had either scaled the pool fence by climbing onto pot plants or the gate was not properly closed.
"The state government can do something about it. It should ban all pools in all day care facilities, full stop," lawyer John Hammond told reporters on Tuesday.
Lachlan's parents Melanie and Luke said they wanted to ensure other families wouldn't go through the heartache they had endured.
"Mainstream day cares don't include a pool and I think it's reasonable to think that family day cares shouldn't," Ms Mitchell said.
"If we can save the life of one child, regardless of the inconvenience and the logistics, I think it's worth it.
"You're talking about children's lives and there's really nothing more important than that."
She said she and her husband were concerned about the pool when they placed Lachlan with the centre but the lack of supervision was most concerning.
Mr Hammond also told reporters the Mitchells should receive at least $75,000 in compensation.
"Day care facilities should not be able to get away with inflicting such huge emotional and financial loss on parents," he said.
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