A swimmer who uses a snorkel at a sports venue due to a disability says he was “humiliated” after being expelled from the pool due to a blanket ban on the equipment.

Kiril Georgiev has been a regular visitor at Maidstone Leisure Centre in Mote Park since he joined in December 2020.

Following a diagnosis of a giant cell tumour of the bone in his spine in 2014, one quarter of his vertebrae was replaced with a metal implant and one quarter of his spine was supported with metal screws and rods.

As a result of the procedure, Kiril can only partake in low-impact sports such as swimming but must do so without stressing his spine.

Due to his condition, the Bearsted resident had been using a snorkel at the leisure centre with the permission of the facility managers and lifeguard since he joined.

However, on December 23, he says he was “expelled” from the pool.

He said: “Ever since I have been swimming there, the snorkel has been something the lifeguards asked about.

“But, when I explained I have this medical condition which necessitates using the snorkel they have been alright and I have been using it ever since without any obstruction.

“On December 23, I went into the water, I started swimming, and I was just stopped from swimming and told me I need to go out because I am using a snorkel.

“I explained that I have been using it due to a medical reason and I have been swimming like this in the Olympic pool in Stratford and in other swimming pools in London where I used to live.

“He said ‘no, we are just not allowing anyone to swim with a snorkel because lifeguards are not trained to take the snorkel out of your mouth if you started to drown’.

“For me, this is incredibly humiliating, just to be kicked out like that.”

On Maidstone Leisure Centre’s website in the equipment policy last updated in October 2024, it says that the use of snorkels “may be restricted in general public swim sessions” and for people to contact reception for information and times when the equipment is permitted.

Without reasonable exception made to the rules, Kiril says a blanket ban is a “discriminatory policy” and is stopping those with injuries or disabilities from accessing the sport.

Moreover, he says he is very happy to waive the lifeguard’s responsibility for him if they are afraid of some kind of recourse.

The 42-year-old, who works as a software engineer, has since made a complaint to Maidstone council and Faversham and Mid Kent MP, Helen Whately (Con).

He added: “This ban means that as long as I am living here, which is my home, I cannot practise the only sport I can and this is essential for my health.

“This is going to be a significant change in the way I live.

“I was expelled from Maidstone Leisure Centre as I was told that the company which operates it is applying a blanket ban on snorkels.”

Kiril says this is not the first time he has been unable to swim with a snorkel in Kent, having been denied entry at Larkfield Leisure Centre a few months ago.

Now, he is increasingly concerned about how this type of ban across leisure centres in the country will impact those with injuries and disabilities.

He said: “My injury has been life-changing, but I have chosen not to live the life of a “disabled” person. I can walk, work, I have been doing my best to move on. Yet, I have been declared not worthy of practising the only sport I can.”

A spokesman for Maidstone Leisure Trust - the operators of the centre - responded to Kiril’s complaint.

We would like to apologise to the customer for any inconvenience caused and invite them back to the centre

He said: “A decision was made to ask a swimmer to remove a snorkel they were wearing, as the piece of equipment did not adhere to the guidelines we have in place for the use of such items in the pool.

“Our staff member was simply following our Pool Safety Operating Procedure, which indicates that only front facing snorkels can be used.

“However, we would like to apologise to the customer for any inconvenience caused and invite them back to the centre to meet our aquatics manager to discuss how we can support them to continue using our swimming pool.”