Boy of four found dead in holiday camp pool

A BOY of four has drowned in a holiday camp swimming pool during a trip organised by a drugs charity.

He was found in the pool at Knapp House activity centre in Bideford, Devon, on Monday after a desperate search of nearby roads and fields.

Last night police said his death was ‘unexplained’ amid conflicting reports of whether lifeguards were working at the pool at the time.

His family, from Weymouth, Dorset, were on the last day of a week-long visit organised by the drugs charity Narcotics Anonymous.

Witnesses said the victim’s mother was ‘absolutely frantic’ after he was reported missing at 2.55pm on Monday. He was last seen by his father at 1.30pm.

Devon and Cornwall Police searched the area and the boy was found in a separate timber shed, housing the pool. His death is being treated as unexplained.

Paramedics were called but the first ambulance became stranded with a flat tyre as it drove to hospital, forcing a second to be called at 3.30pm.

He was taken to North Devon District

‘Absolutely devastated’

Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He has yet to be identified but his wider family have been informed.

Yesterday locals said he must have wandered into the pool complex alone.

A spokesman for Narcotics Anonymous said: ‘Very tragically today, something has gone horrifically wrong, and a young child of one of our members drowned in the pool. We are not aware of the exact details of how this happened and the police are obviously investigating.’

The centre’s directors, Ashley and Stuart Clements, said campers had ‘self supervised’ use of the pool at the time of the incident – although organisers insisted all pool activities took place under the eyes of lifeguards.

In a statement they said: ‘Our deepest sympathies go to the young boy’s family and friends. The group had the use of the pool on a self-supervised basis for recreational use. It was not part of the planned activity programme that we provide.

‘The event has always been a great success but we are all absolutely devastated that this year it has ended in such tragic circumstances. We are fully committed to understand exactly how this happened.’