LONDON: The
mother of two children who drowned alongside their British father in Spain has
denied reports that they could not swim, suggesting instead that something was
wrong with the resort's swimming pool. The tragedy took place on Christmas Eve
as the family-of-five was holidaying at Club La Costa World in the southern
Spanish resort of Mijas.

"The three
of them knew how to swim," said Olubunmi Diya in a statement published
Friday by the family's London-based church on Facebook, adding that the whole
family was present when the incident happened. 
"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," she said, describing how her husband then entered
the water to help them.

"I believe
something was wrong with the pool that must have made swimming difficult for
them at that point in time."

Gabriel Diya, 52,
a Christian pastor, died alongside his nine-year-old daughter Comfort and his
16-year-old son Praise-Emmanuel, who holds American nationality. "We are
deeply shocked, saddened and struggling to come to terms with their
passing," Olubunmi Diya added. Sources close to the Spanish investigation
had earlier said that a surviving sister had told police that the three did not
know how to swim.  Police had examined
the pool's filters to see if the young girl had somehow been sucked in by the
water purification system, a spokesman said.

The pool reopened
on Thursday, according to footage shown on Spanish national television. In a
statement, Club La Costa World said police had carried out a full investigation
and given "formal permission to reopen the pool as they found no concerns relating
to the pool or procedures in place". "This was a tragic accident
which has left everyone surrounding the incident in shock," it said,
expressing concern for the care and support of the surviving family members and
asking that their privacy be respected. 
-AFP