A tragic incident occurred at a hotel swimming pool abroad where a five-year-old boy, Theo Treharne-Jones, drowned after wandering to the pool alone before breakfast. The coroner ruled his death as accidental and is now urging holiday companies, including TUI, to enhance child safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.
Theo, described as an enthusiastic and loving child, had no perception of danger when he ventured to the pool at the Atlantica Holiday Village in Kos, Greece, in June 2019. His mother, Nina Treharne, highlighted the absence of a door chain in their hotel room and questioned the adequacy of pool security.
The Treharne family, from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, had visited the same hotel previously but noted differences in the room setup during their return trip. Despite taking precautions like using a buggy and a suitcase to secure the door, Theo managed to leave the room unnoticed.
The inquest revealed that Theo, diagnosed with Smith-Magenis Syndrome and displaying autistic traits, was less cautious by nature. His father, Richard Jones, fondly described Theo as a delightful child with a contagious smile. When Theo was found unconscious in the pool, bystanders rushed to provide CPR, but unfortunately, he could not be revived.
Coroner Gavin Knox concluded the incident as accidental and plans to issue a safety report to holiday companies for implementing preventive measures. This report aims to enhance safety protocols and avoid such tragic incidents in the future.
