A five-year-old boy, Theo Treharne-Jones, tragically passed away while swimming in a pool during a family holiday in Greece. The incident occurred at the Atlantica Holiday Village on the island of Kos in June 2019. Theo, who had a neurodevelopmental disorder called Smith-Magenis syndrome and was nonverbal, had expressed excitement about returning to the holiday village with his family after nine months.
At the inquest held at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court, it was revealed that the family had been accommodated in a different part of the resort during their latest visit. Theo’s mother, Nina Treharne, pointed out that the new door mechanisms did not allow them to lock the door securely as there was no chain. To secure the room, the family resorted to piling suitcases and buggies against the door as a precautionary measure.
On the morning of June 15, Nina discovered the door slightly open and heard a woman alerting others about a child in the pool. Rushing to the scene, she found that Theo had been discovered in the pool. Despite efforts by holidaymakers and resort staff to revive him with CPR and a defibrillator, Theo could not be saved and passed away at the hospital.
The heartbroken father, Richard Jones, described Theo as a loving and affectionate child with a contagious smile and laugh. The inquest is ongoing as more details are being examined.
