A tragic incident occurred where a five-year-old boy drowned in a hotel swimming pool while on vacation abroad. A coroner is urging holiday companies to enhance child protection measures following the unfortunate death.
Theo Treharne-Jones passed away after he left his hotel room without a chain lock and made his way to the pool independently before breakfast at the resort in Greece. The coroner determined his death to be accidental and is issuing a report to holiday operators, including TUI, to prevent similar tragedies.
During the family trip to the island of Kos, Theo, described as an energetic and affectionate child, had no perception of danger when he ventured to the pool. His mother, Nina Treharne, expressed concerns about the lack of security at the pool due to the absence of a door-chain in their room.
Having stayed at the same hotel previously, the family returned with Theo on a holiday package with TUI. However, they found the rooms different from their previous visit, with their current room lacking a chain lock. Ms. Treharne mentioned that they used a buggy and a suitcase to secure the door as a precaution.
Following a distressing incident where Theo was found unconscious in the swimming pool, his father, Richard Jones, described him as a delightful child with a contagious laugh and smile. Despite expecting to find Theo by the poolside when alerted, he was shocked to witness CPR being performed on his son.
A fellow holidaymaker, Stuart Zammitto-Nicholl, discovered Theo in the water and immediately started CPR. Another guest, Owen Samson, witnessed Theo near the pool, unaware of the impending tragedy due to the child’s playful behavior.
Coroner Gavin Knox concluded the incident as accidental and plans to send a report with safety recommendations to holiday firms to prevent similar incidents in the future.