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Boy, 5, dies at swimming pool just one hour after arriving at UK holiday park

Home> News

Published 18:41 1 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Boy, 5, dies at swimming pool just one hour after arriving at UK holiday park

A dad has spoken out after his five-year-old son passed away following an incident at a holiday park swimming pool.

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

A dad has spoken out after his five-year-old son passed away following an incident at a holiday park swimming pool.

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.

After arriving yesterday (31 July), the family pitched their tent and then headed to the swimming pool.

But just an hour later, Robin tragically passed away.

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Five-year-old Robin was on the first day of his family holiday.
CornwallLive/BPM

Cemal explains Robin initially joined him in the resort's main pool, but then decided he wanted to go to the baby pool to spend time with his mum and baby brother.

However, on his way over to the other pool, the five-year-old got into difficulty in the water.

Cemal notes neither he nor his wife spotted Robin struggling at first because of 'barriers' blocking their vision and 'low lighting'.

The resort has pools inside and outside.
Instagram/ @atlanticreach

Cemal reflects on his son as being 'very cute and clever' - particularly 'intelligent' due to being able to 'write with both hands'.

According to the 35-year-old father, Robin 'loved hugs' and adored his baby brother, often putting him 'on his legs and rock[ing] him'.

Cemal explains he hopes his story can act as a warning to parents.

He says: "I want every parent to see this story, this can't happen again. We are suffering pain and we don't want any parents to have a similar feeling.

"We just wanted to share this to stop it happening again, to any other parents and any other children."

Robin's dad reflects on how much the five-year-old 'loved hugs'.
CornwallLive/BPM

In response to the incident, Atlantic Reach swiftly closed its Leisure Club for 'the remainder of [the] evening'.

In a post to Facebook it apologised for the 'short notice'.

It later updated holidaymakers the Leisure Club would 'open as normal for gym and classes at 6:30 tomorrow (Tuesday, 1 August)', however both 'indoor and outdoor pools' would remain closed 'until further notice'.

The circumstances surrounding Robin's death are being looked into by police.
CornwallLive/BPM

Robin's death is being looked into by representatives from Cornwall Council's health and safety team alongside Devon and Cornwall Police.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police 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, yesterday afternoon (Monday 31 July).

"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."

Atlantic Reach took to Facebook to address the incident.
Facebook/ Atlantic Reach

In a post to Facebook, Atlantic Reach stated it is 'absolutely heartbroken' over the incident.

The statement continues: "We do not feel it is appropriate to comment further at this stage, except to say our thoughts are with the family at this devastating time.

"Atlantic Reach is committed to supporting our guests and community, as well as our team that provided immediate assistance.

"As such we respectfully ask that all those affected are given time and space at this distressing time."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677

Featured Image Credit: CornwallLive/BPM

Topics: Parenting, Real Life, Life, UK News, Travel, Health, Mental Health

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

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