Nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy ordered out of inflatable pool at Kurnell Beach

A young boy with cerebral palsy was reportedly ordered removed from an inflatable pool by council security guards at Kurnell Beach on Australia Day, sparking community outrage.

Sophie Wellard, who witnessed the incident at Bonna Point Park near Cronulla, said she was heartbroken by the incident.

“There was a big, beautiful family prepared for the day with food, music, booze and lots of beautiful children,” Ms Wellard said.

“There was a little boy in a wheelchair who I learned had cerebral palsy. His mother, who couldn’t enjoy the ocean due to her physical disability on Australia Day, had bought a small inflatable pool so he could get in the water and play.”

He said one of the local residents called the municipality and the municipality came and “ordered the child to get out of the pool.”

“I don’t care about the rules and regulations about giving a few centimeters of water to a disabled child.”

He said he saw the mother and grandmother burst into tears after the incident.

The boy’s mother, Siu Moli Siola’a, explained on Facebook that the pool had been placed under adult supervision for the younger children in their group and for her son, who has cerebral palsy and is struggling with the ocean conditions.

“He struggles with the sound of the waves and it is not always possible to carry him across the sand into the water. This small pool allowed him to enjoy the beach in his own way,” Ms Siola’a said.

He said when city officials arrived, they outlined several issues, including water depth limits, water disposal and use of park tap water.

“They informed us of the danger and politely asked if we could lower the water in the pool to 50 cm. We admitted our mistake and cooperated.”

He said his cousin dumped the first bucket of water into nearby bushes before being told that this was also a problem.

“We also learned that it was against the law to use tap water from the park to fill the pool. They said we would be in big trouble if Sydney Water was involved.”

Ms. Siola’a said the officer told her to “get water from the ocean” next time, but also expressed concerns that the family’s inflatable pool posed a slipping hazard, even though it was set on grass behind public toilets, away from foot traffic.

He said the children became visibly upset after instructions were given to deflate the pool.

“We cooperated. The little kids screamed. My son was confused as to why the water fun ended so quickly.”

She said the saddest moment came when she returned with a towel in hand and saw an officer motioning for her son to get out of the pool.

“The officers were aware of my son’s disability and why the pool was there… I turned to an officer and motioned for my son to get out quickly. That’s what upset me.”

“It doesn’t take long for an observer to figure out which child is disabled. He was the only adult child sitting in the pool. This made me sad,” he said.

Ms Siola’a said the experience underlined how much effort parents put into ensuring children with additional needs can enjoy everyday moments.

“As parents, we would do anything to see our child smile. When your child can’t walk or has additional needs, you do everything possible to make sure he or she can still have fun, feel comfortable, and not miss a thing.”

“I don’t like using my child’s disability to justify our existence or ask for special treatment, because that’s not it. I hope others will be a little more understanding, show compassion, and enjoy life.”

Ms Wellard later shared an update revealing Bondi Beach lifeguards had organized a fully accessible day for the child.

“A huge thank you to Hoppo, head lifeguard at Bondi Beach, for organizing a day that was completely tailored to (the child’s) needs. It will be a wonderful experience,” Ms Wellard said, thanking the community for supporting the family.

A spokesman for Sutherland Shire Council said they had responded to the complaint about the “temporary pool”.

“In New South Wales, inflatable and portable pools that can hold more than 30cm of water are subject to the same strict safety regulations and fencing laws as permanent inground pools,” the spokesperson said.

“For security reasons, the staff respectfully requested that the pool be evacuated and helped the family in this regard.

“Our public parks, playgrounds and waterways are much-loved spaces and get particularly busy on long weekends. It’s important we help keep everyone safe, which means structures such as inflatables or temporary pools cannot be used in these areas.”

“Council staff have also reached out to the family to offer support in arranging a safe, accessible swimming experience on mobi-mats at Gunnamatta Bay Baths or at one of our leisure centres.”