A British father and his two children drowned in a swimming pool at a resort in the Costa del Sol, in what a holiday operator called a ‘tragic accident’.
The horror incident happened around 1.30pm on Christmas Eve at Club La Costa World, a sprawling holiday resort in Spain, a short drive from Fuengirola
A nine-year-old girl got into difficulties in the resort’s swimming pool and her older brother, 16, and their 52-year-old father jumped into the water to save her.
According to witness Josias Fletchman, from Manchester, said he returned to the apartment block as staff at the Club La Costa World complex were pulling the three out of the water.
Fletchman, 35, the mother “stayed calm” as she touched her loved ones’ and prayed their hearts would start beating again while the tourist tried to save her husband’s life.
“She was calm. She was touching their bodies. She continued praying even after the ambulance people arrived and had stopped trying to revive them."
Another wtiness, Eni Raja, 22, originally from Norway, added: “I saw the bodies with the three white blankets over them.
“The mum was crying. I can’t get the image out of my mind.”
Police and resort operators are now trying to piece together what may have caused all three victims to drown.
Investigators are understood to have analysed the circulation system including the pump, network of skimmers and drains to check for any suction problems which could be deadly for young children.
Resort chiefs have, however, said they had been told there was no anomaly with the pool circulation system.
“There’s never been a problem with the pool and we receive hundreds of guests every week.”
“It’s been functioning for years and it’s checked on a regular basis.”
“The pool has all its paperwork in order and what we know from the Civil Guard is that there is no anomaly with the pool suction system which press reports have highlighted."
“The management are assisting the authorities fully with their investigation into the deaths. We would like to thank our first response team and the emergency services for their quick and appropriate responses and our staff for the continuing support of the family at this difficult time”
Trained counsellors are now spending time with the mother and her other child, thought to be a teenage daughter, while other relatives jet to Spain from the UK.
The bodies were transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Malaga, where they will undergo autopsies.
Police have now allowed the pool to be re-opened.
Source: The Sun
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