A DAD who injured himself after falling on a broken drain cover at Huddersfield Sports Centre is warning people about its danger.

Michael Brooke, 45, had enjoyed a swimming session with his young son Ayrton last Saturday when he suffered a series of injuries after he slipped on the drain cover in the men’s showers.

The plastic casing came lose and he fell to the floor, bruising his foot, cutting his elbow and causing a groin strain – which made an old hernia problem reoccur.

He reported it to staff at the Southgate swimming pool, but he said they failed to seal the drain cover off from other swimmers after his fall.

Mr Brooke, of Waterloo, said: “I would have accepted it if they had closed off the area to make it safe but they didn’t – that is my concern.

“The manager just said it was a blocked drain but while I was on the floor a lad of about 10-years-old walked by and said he’d hurt himself on the drain a few weeks before.

“I’m just thankful it was me who stepped onto it and not my son.

“But it should never have happened.”

The drainage gully in the men’s showers has a plastic covering, which unbeknown to Mr Brooke, was cracked.

When he walked over the cover it became loose and he slipped.

The injuries he suffered caused several days of pain.

“I was on the floor and someone did get me an ice-pack but I was worried that it could happen to someone else.

“The didn’t seem overly concerned with sealing it off.

“A manager said it was a blocked drain and cleared it out but I could see it was still loose.

“I’m worried about other people who maybe don’t see it’s lose and it could come lose again.

“I’m not happy and told them so and I was told to complain to Kirklees Active Leisure but I’ve been sent round the houses with it and don’t feel reassured it’s being fixed.”

Mr Brooke said he was still encountering pain after suffering a gash to his elbow while there was a four or five inch bruise to his foot days after his fall.

“People go to that place to get fit, not to suffer an injury.

“I’m in quite a lot of discomfort, I had a hernia in my 20s and I can feel it aching a little now.

“I’m wary about taking my little boy back there again now.

“I just want them to make it safe for people to use – they should have been in a rush to rope it off.

“They said it’d not happened before but that doesn’t matter, everything has to have a first time and I hope there isn’t a second.”

A spokeswoman for Kirklees Active Leisure public safety was of vital importance to Kirklees Active Leisure and a proactive approach has been taken.

Regional Manager, Jenny Frear, said: “Huddersfield Sports Centre is checked on a regular basis to ensure the building complies with health and safety standards and the shower and plumbing system is maintained by professional staff.

“There have been no previously reported defects or complaints, however since this incident an investigation has been underway and any necessary repairs have been promptly dealt with.

“We would ask our customers to continue enjoying our facilities and remain active.”