SAFETY measures at Southampton's new multi-million-pound swimming pool are being reviewed after a swimmer had her toes skinned in a water vent.

Kathy Arundel travelled from Gosport to try out the fun pool at The Quays - the Eddie Read swimming and diving complex.

But when Mrs Arundel, 31, of St Edwards Road, Gosport dipped her toes in the water she was in for a nasty surprise. Two toes became trapped in a switched off water vent and, after she struggled to pull them out, they were skinned and started bleeding.

She said: "I called a first aider who treated me, and told me to go home and put a plaster on it. But I went to the hospital later in Gosport because I was in so much pain and my foot was still bleeding and the nurse said I'd been given the wrong advice.

"She said my toes are badly skinned and the cuts are very deep, and the dressings will have to be changed in hospital for the next four days.

"I can't sleep because of the pain and I can't go into work.

"I have made the management at The Quays aware of what happened, but they have told me they can't find anything wrong. "I just want other swimmers, particularly children, to know what happened to me. It's a shame, because I was really looking forward to trying the pool."

A city council spokesman said: "An initial inspection was carried out to see what may have caused the injury and we will do another, more thorough, investigation.

"All our life guards are first aid trained," he pointed out.

The £10 million pool opened earlier this summer after years in the making.

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