Tragic Rocco, 3, was ‘amazing’ and ‘joyful’

A THREE-YEAR-OLD child who drowned in a swimming pool was “the most amazing, happy, joyful boy you could ever wish to meet”, his family has said.

Rocco Wright, inset, died in an incident at the David Lloyd Club on Tongue Lane, Leeds, on Saturday. Rocco was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Officers are treating the incident as a “tragic accident”. In a statement, Rocco’s father, Steven, said: “We are all totally devastated by the loss of the most amazing, happy, joyful boy you could ever wish to meet.”

Mr Wright said he was with Rocco and his four-year-old sister at the centre for his daughter’s swimming lesson. He said he decided to take both children swimming himself after some confusion over the swimming instructors. Mr Wright said he realised he could not see Rocco. He said: “I checked round the poolside thinking he would be hiding, but devastatingly he wasn’t. I found him at the far end of pool face down at the bottom. I dived in and got him out onto the poolside and screamed for help.” Mr Wright said that, contrary to some statements, it was he who pulled his son from the water, and a lifeguard did not “rescue” him. He said: “By making this statement we’re not trying to place blame, we just want the facts to be reported accurately.” David Lloyd Clubs said they were ‘deeply shocked’ and were helping the investigation.