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Mother says two children and husband who died in Spanish pool were able to swim

In a statement, an “utterly heartbroken” Olubunmi Diya said she believed “something was wrong with the pool”.

spain-pool-deaths Civil guard divers, right, work at the side of a swimming pool at the Club La Costa World holiday resort. AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

THE MOTHER OF two children who drowned alongside their father while holidaying in the Costa del Sol said all three could swim, and claimed there was something “wrong” with the pool they died in.

Christian pastor Gabriel Diya, 52, his daughter Comfort Diya, nine, and his son Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve at the Club La Costa World holiday resort in Fuengirola, Spain.

An “utterly heartbroken” Olubunmi Diya said she believed “something was wrong with the pool that must have made swimming difficult for them at that point in time”.

Hotel operator CLC World Resorts and Hotels said “diligent and exhaustive” police investigations had confirmed the pool was working “normally” and there was “no malfunction of any kind”.

In a statement, Diya said that her husband and the two children, who were reportedly on holiday with another unharmed daughter, were able to swim.

This was contrary to earlier media reports – sources close to the Spanish investigation had earlier said that the surviving sister had told police that the three couldn’t swim. 

She said: “The whole family, all five of us went to the pool together and were all present when the incident occurred. The children were not left unattended.

“We followed the instructions displayed by the poolside at all times.

The children went into the pool using the steps but found themselves dragged into the middle, which was deeper and called for help when they could not get out.
My daughter did not fall into the water.

“My husband went in via the steps trying to help the two struggling while I ran to the nearby apartments shouting for help to assist my husband.

“By the time assistance came, the three of them were under the water.”

According to a statement issued by the Guardia Civil in Spain, its investigation points to the incident being an accident caused by the victims’ lack of swimming expertise when in the deep zone of the pool.

It said inspections of the pool’s systems had found no irregularities.

The statement also said the youngest child’s swimming hat was retrieved from the pool.

In a statement released on Friday, CLC World Resorts and Hotels said: “Diligent and exhaustive police investigations into this tragedy have confirmed that the pool was working normally and there was no malfunction of any kind.

“Our sympathies remain with the family at what we understand must be a stressful and desperately upsetting time for them.”

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    Mute Annette
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    Dec 28th 2019, 8:35 AM

    Something seriously wrong here, this poor woman and her surviving daughter what she must have gone through!! Unimaginable

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    Mute Bernard Kilmurray
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    Dec 28th 2019, 8:37 AM

    Where were the lifeguards?

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    Mute John Horan
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    Dec 28th 2019, 8:46 AM

    @Bernard Kilmurray: There is a minimum size rule before you need a lifeguard.

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    Mute CC
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    Dec 28th 2019, 9:54 AM

    @John Horan: yeah I think of the pool is bigger than 200/250 sqm ? Read someone’s comment on another article. Just heartbreaking.

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    Mute Paddy Dunne
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    Dec 28th 2019, 10:04 AM

    I think the question has to be asked is what kind of pool is this ,is this a normal pool or is there some wave making mechanism in it to say that they were pulled into the deep part of the pool and not able to get out sounds sinister to me ,
    God bless that poor woman a holiday that cost her husband and children unimaginable

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Dec 28th 2019, 9:58 AM

    Tragic, whatever the cause.

    More unroped easily accessible Lifebuoys, positioned adjacent to entry points / steps and to the side, should be mandatory for hotel pools.

    Buoys being too far away and all tied up seems the norm, which is no good in a panic scenario – likely with the story here.

    It’s a bit unrealistic to expect lifeguard cover at a hotel 24/7. Costs would be too prohibitive for all but very top end of the market.

    A small floatation device attached to a foot, no matter how good the swimmer, especially if not a regular, should not take from the enjoyment of a dip.

    One can’t be too careful with children near water.

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Dec 28th 2019, 11:35 AM

    @Rory J Leonard what a tragedy – poor family –

    I dont know why you speculate about buoys being likely far away – the pic of the pool in the article shows a large orange rung buoy right beside the pool ??

    Something doesn’t add up here ??

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    Mute Dublin
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    Dec 28th 2019, 6:32 PM

    I almost drowned in a hotel pool in Tenerife (Gran Tacande in Costa Adeje resort).
    My sister and mum came to save me but they too immediately began to struggle. They’re both better swimmers than me. There were TWO lifeguards on duty, both sitting atop a high chair supposedly looking out for this sort of thing. None of them saw or helped. It was only when I went to the bottom my mum screamed to the top of her lungs. She was screaming before but people though she was playing. When they realised it was serious, 3men dived in to immediately save me and pull me to the size where I had CPR.
    The lifeguards watched, then came down to inspect what was going on. They were almost EXACTLY useless. Never visiting the hotel again. Don’t underestimate how easy it could be to drown in shallow-is water.

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Dec 28th 2019, 11:33 AM

    Some news media mad to add the non swimmers element . First it was possibly non swimmers, then it came as a direct quote from surviving child. As for the official report, BBC news said the pool was investigated and found not at fault but then added, the pools pumping system was being examined. So the pool is not in the clear yet. The state broadcasters are the only news media that can be trusted because they don’t have any reason to make a story juicier. Imo

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    Mute Bernard Kilmurray
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    Dec 28th 2019, 8:39 AM

    Where were the lifeguards???

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    Mute Breda Clarke
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    Dec 28th 2019, 5:52 PM

    So very sad but I can’t help but think why the dad used the steps to get into the pool. I know I’d jump in if my child was in difficulty as I can swim. I think a person who is not a confident swimmer would be inclined to use the steps.

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    Mute Barry Evans
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    Dec 28th 2019, 8:46 PM

    @Breda Clarke: that’s what you took from this? That he didn’t dive in like some movie action hero??

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    Mute Bopper Bops Holland
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    Dec 28th 2019, 1:34 PM

    What time did it happen

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    Mute nelliekel
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    Dec 28th 2019, 4:16 PM

    Doesn’t seem to be a run down flea pit of hotel so why is there no cctv as most hotels have it now if only for the compo culture

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    Mute Dublin
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    Dec 28th 2019, 6:40 PM

    Testing if my comments ever show up !

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    Mute Dublin
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    Dec 28th 2019, 6:36 PM

    Don’t underestimate

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