A father from Wythenshawe, Manchester, has captured widespread online attention after installing a 12-foot swimming pool and a waterslide in his back garden. Liam Tandy, 40, has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok by sharing videos of his son speeding down the slide and landing with a splash on the patio.
Mr. Tandy has owned the pool since 2024 and, half-jokingly, attributes the impulsive purchase to having ADHD. 'That's just how I am, once I get an idea in my head, I just have to have it,' he told the Manchester Evening News. The idea struck him while on a summer holiday; he did not want to leave the poolside fun behind. Upon returning home, he decided to recreate the experience.
Installation and Costs
To accommodate the 12-foot by 24-foot pool, which cost an estimated £1,000, Mr. Tandy flattened most of his garden. He also purchased a former playground slide on eBay and built a platform over his garage roof to attach it. A mechanic by trade, he constructed the setup himself, adding netting around the sides for safety. 'I don't see it as unsafe,' he said. 'I've spoken to my neighbours and they don't have an issue with it.'
The pool is equipped with a filter and treated with chlorine. When asked about his water bill, Mr. Tandy replied, 'Let's not talk about the costs.'
Going Viral
The pool remained 'a bit of a secret' until a woman staying at a nearby AirBnB filmed it from her window and posted the video on TikTok. The clip quickly went viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of views. 'Now it's gone viral I am expecting a visit from the council,' Mr. Tandy said. 'But it's a temporary structure and I can have it down in an hour.'
With the arrival of the year's first heatwave and the May half-term, Mr. Tandy's children and their friends have been flocking to the pool. 'I kind of live through my children, I have three and I know how fast it goes,' he said. 'They're only young once and once they're grown up you don't get that time back.' He added, 'It is nice to get credit as a dad cause I don't think we get credit or appreciated very often. I go above and beyond for my kids.'
