Heartbreak of parents as son, 4, drowns in Mauritius holiday pool
‘He was the sweetest boy in the world’
A FOUR-year-old boy died after drowning in a hotel swimming pool during a family holiday.
The family of Ozair Ali, who died on the island of Mauritius, described him as the ‘sweetest’ boy.
Ozair was pulled from the pool at a resort after his father noticed he was struggling to breathe.
He was taken to hospital but could not be saved and a post-mortem examination confirmed he had drowned.
The youngster, from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, was on holiday with his parents and older brother at the Lux Hotel in Belle Mare when the tragedy happened on June 28.
His father, Shahzabe Ali, a solicitor, paid tribute to his son on social media, writing: ‘He was the sweetest, sweetest boy in the world, with the right dose of cheekiness and love.
‘He would instantly light up a room and drew everyone towards him with his loving personality.
‘In his short four-and-a-half years, he has given us so many memories which we will cherish every day and I will take the sorrow of his departure to my grave.
‘Your baba, mama and Aydin will always love and remember you. Until we meet again, my little one, my Ozair Babi. Your baba waits for the day we are reunited.’
Family friends also paid tribute to Ozair. Munzi Ahmed wrote: ‘Such an amazing wee guy. I remember my last words the day we met. “Never stop smiling.” As he had the biggest smile.’
Mona Hassanien said: ‘My heart is with you and your family during this incredibly trying time. I wish you strength, understanding and courage moving forward.’ And Kulwant Bhatti wrote: ‘We will keep you and your family in our prayers. May your little one rest in peace and may God give you the strength to endure this heartbreak.’
Local reports in Mauritius said the family arrived at the resort on June 24, four days before Ozair drowned. His body was flown back to Scotland and he was laid to rest on July 1 after a funeral at Glasgow Central Mosque.
A spokesman for the Mauritius police force told STV News: ‘He was swimming in the hotel’s pool in company of his family members, when at about 2pm his father noticed that he was having difficulty breathing. He was immediately removed to a safe place.
‘The cause of death was, after an autopsy, certified to be “asphyxia, due to drowning”.’
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Mauritius.’
Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, is a popular tourist destination, welcoming around 140,000 British visitors each year.