Police are called in to investigate death of boy, four, at Center Parcs resort swimming pool
- Police and a coroner are working to determine how a boy died at Center Parcs
- The four-year-old was pulled from a pool at its complex in Longleat, Wiltshire
- Medics and lifeguards tried to save him but he died hours later on Christmas Eve
Police have been called in to help investigate the death of a four-year-old boy in a swimming pool at a Center Parcs resort.
The child was pulled from a pool at the leisure complex in Longleat, Wiltshire, at around 11am on Christmas Eve, with emergency services including the air ambulance scrambled.
However, despite the best efforts of medics and lifeguards, he was unable to be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.
Wiltshire Police says it is working alongside the coroner to determine the circumstances of the boy’s death.
Police have been called in to investigate the death of a four-year-old boy in a swimming pool at Center Parcs. Pictured: The outdoor rapids slide at Center Parcs, Longleat
The boy was pulled from the water at around 11am on Christmas Eve and despite the best efforts of medics was unable to be saved. Pictured: A swimming pool at Center Parcs’ resort in Longleat
The force said that a ‘post-mortem will take place in due course’ but added that ‘at this time there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances’.
In a statement issued today, it said: ‘We are working alongside HM Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon following the death of a four-year-old boy at CenterParcs, Longleat.
‘A post-mortem will take place in due course, however, at this time there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.’
Holidaymakers said the resort’s sub-tropical swimming pool was closed due to a ‘serious medical incident’.
Following the tragic incident the pool was closed, although Center Parcs has confirmed it reopened on Christmas Day.
It was reported that staff were in ‘floods of tears’ while they desperately tried to save the boy, who according to a witness was pulled from the water at Subtropical Swimming Paradise.
A member of the public also helped lifeguards pull the child from the water, the Sun reports
The coroner is looking into the circumstances of the boy’s death. Pictured: The entrance to Center Parcs, Longleat Forest
One person staying at Center Parcs for Christmas told the PA news agency: ‘Thankfully we didn’t see anything. We noticed a big crowd all leaving the plaza.
‘We were headed back to our lodge to have lunch before swimming. I checked my phone and saw the pool was closed due to an incident.
‘Obviously that’s all we knew originally.
‘The plaza is all open, the parc market, gift shops, etc – there is just a temporary barrier across the entrance to the pool itself.’
Center Parcs issued a statement on the day which said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic news that a young guest has passed away at Longleat Forest today,’ it said.
‘We are offering our support to the family and to our employees who provided immediate assistance.
‘Our thoughts remain with the family at this very difficult time.’
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