Boy, 4, Dies After Holiday Swimming Pool Ordeal

Boy, 4, Dies After Holiday Swimming Pool Ordeal

A four year old boy has died after nearly drowning in a swimming pool while on a family holiday.

The child suffered a cardiac arrest after the incident, at Bicclescombe Grange in Ilfracombe in Devon.

Paramedics rushed to the scene at 6.17pm on Friday and performed CPR on the boy.

He was taken to North Devon District Hospital by air ambulance, before being transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the boy's life support machine was switched off yesterday.

"This is a sad and tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family," he said.

"Officers will now be making a number of inquiries so we can fully understand what has happened.

"While we don't know the circumstances it is important to remind parents and those responsible for young children to be extra vigilant when supervising children in water."

The family are believed to be on holiday in the area, though it is not yet known where they are from, the force spokesman added.

A spokeswoman for South West Ambulance Service said: "We received a call at 18.17 on August 23 to attend a drowning incident at Bicclescombe Grange.

"The patient was a four-year-old male who underwent cardiac arrest. A first responder was at the scene and performed CPR.

"The patient was flown to North Devon District Hospital by air ambulance.

"He had cardiac output when he left the scene."

Bicclescombe Grange is a large three-storey luxury holiday home on the outskirts of Ilfracombe, owned by Andrew and Allison Swinton.

Mr Swinton told the North Devon Journal: "It is a tragic occurrence.

"It is a very secure pool with double locked doors. We have got all the signage up we should have. We do not know how it happened."

Police are investigating the incident along with other safeguarding partners, on behalf of the coroner.

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