Little Edward James Watson Massey, four, from Co Down, tragically died after he was found unresponsive in a pool during a family holiday to the Spanish island of Tenerife
A four-year-old British boy who was found dead in a swimming pool during a family holiday to Tenerife has been pictured for the first time.
Little Edward James Watson Massey, from Co Down, in Northern Ireland, was found unresponsive in the pool in the popular San Miguel de Abona location in the south of the island on May 22. A death notice for the boy said he is survived by father Richard, mother Joanne as well as sister “and best friend” Victoria. The notice added Edward would be “greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all his friends” and said: “He will be cherished in our hearts forever. Our lives will never be the same without him.”
According to a post on the website of the Canary Islands Government’s Emergency and Security Co-ordination, it received an alert on Thursday reporting that a child had been rescued from a hotel pool by a lifeguard and was in cardiac arrest.
A nurse assisted the caller to locate a defibrillator and begin resuscitation procedures. This was carried out by first responders in the area and other individuals identified as physicians.
Two ambulances and a helicopter were despatched but the resuscitation procedures were unsuccessful and little Edward was pronounced dead. Funeral arrangements are being organised for the young boy.
Two advanced life support ambulances as well as a medical helicopter were despatched to the site with CPR attempts continuing. Spanish broadcaster Telecinco said: “The child died after failing to recover from a cardiorespiratory arrest following a rescue from a hotel pool.”
A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Spain, and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Tragically, a different British toddler died after drowning in a pool at a holiday park in Greece. The three-year-old tot was found dead in a Tsilivi swimming pool with ambulances being called to the Greek island of Zakynthos where the British family was staying.
A spokesperson for the government said they had been liaising with local authorities. They previously said: “We are providing consular support to the family of a British child who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The Greek state broadcaster ERT reported the toddler had been with his mum, two aunts and grandparents who were renting a villa when he died.
The child reportedly entered the pool while other family members, who were inside the villa at the time, had been preparing to go out for lunch.