UK boy,9, dies after footie game collision on a Spanish beach

Medics take 26 mins to reach cardiac arrest lad

A BRITISH boy of nine has died during a kickabout with pals on a beach in Spain.

It is believed Kia suffered a cardiac arrest after clashing heads with another lad.

Beachgoers and police tried in vain to save him. But specialist paramedics carrying a defibrillator took 26 minutes to arrive.

Lifeguards only worked the Easter holidays and were not on duty, town hall officials said.

Kai was playing with pals on Cala Bosque beach in La Zenia on the Costa Brava, watched by his gran, when the accident happened on Tuesday at 5.40pm.

His mum Nicola Fawcett works as a waitress at a bar nearby. She is understood to have moved to the area from Doncaster, South Yorks, with Kai and his older sister Mai.

The lad was rushed to Quiron Hospital in Torrevieja and later transferred by air ambulance to Alicante General Hospital where he died around 24 hours later.

TRIBUTES

Yesterday around 60 wellwishers gathered at the spot where Kai collapsed to leave floral tributes for him.

Nicola was too upset to join them, although her DJ partner Pete Short attended.

A British pal of Nicola’s, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m still in shock. You never expect something like this to happen during a children’s kickaround.”

An ambulance spokesman confirmed the crew were at the scene 26 minutes after being called. They said other units were busy treating urgent cases.

Councillor Rafael Almagro called it a “tragic accident” and added: “The detail of exactly what happened is still under investigation and the Civil Guard is preparing the appropriate reports.”

A Orihuela Town Hall statement said: “We deeply regret the youngster’s loss and offer our condolences to his family.”

The resort is near Torrevieja, popular with British expats.

Where Kai died playing with pals SUNNY SMILES Kai messing about in pool Kai with his mum Nicola Fawcett