Father of boy who drowned at UK holiday park demands a full investigation into his death

The father of the five-year-old boy who drowned in a pool at a holiday park in Cornwall has said he wants a ‘full investigation’ into what happened as he feels there are a ‘lot of unanswered questions’.

Parents Ferzane and Cemal Caliskan, from Plymouth, took their two sons - five-year-old Robin and six-month-old Renas - to the Atlantic Reach holiday park in Newquay, Cornwall, on 31 July.

After setting up their tent, the family-of-four headed to the pool.

The circumstances surrounding what exactly happened are unclear, but at some point Robin got into difficulty in the water.

Despite attempts to resuscitate him at the poolside, Robin tragically passed away.

The heartbroken dad is now demanding a full investigation into what happened to his ‘very happy’ little boy.

Reach

He told the BBC: “Robin died in front of our eyes. I feel there are a lot of unanswered questions about why Robin died. I just cannot accept it at all.”

Paying tribute to the youngster, Cemal said he was a ‘quick learner’ with an outgoing personality that helped him make new friends easily.

"Everyone loved him, he had lots of friends," he said.

The park has said it is ‘fully cooperating’ with police and council health and safety investigators.

In a statement, Atlantic Reach said it was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ about his death and that ‘thoughts are with Robin’s family’.

"We have been advised that, for legal reasons, it is not appropriate for us to comment at this stage on the circumstances of this tragic accident.

"We are fully cooperating with the investigation that is taking place to establish the facts and it is not appropriate to comment or speculate on that investigation.

Reach

"Our thoughts are with Robin's family at this devastating time. We respectfully ask that all those affected are given time and space at this distressing time."

A police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a child at a holiday park in Newquay.

“Police were informed by the ambulance service that a five-year-old boy had drowned in a swimming pool within Atlantic Reach Holiday Park on Monday, July 31.

“The boy is from the Plymouth area and his next of kin are aware, the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is to be prepared for the coroner.

“Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police along with representatives from Cornwall Council Health and Safety are undertaking enquiries in relation to the circumstances surrounding this death.”