Family could swim after Britons die in Spain pool: Mother

LONDON: Themother of two children who drowned alongside their British father in Spain hasdenied reports that they could not swim, suggesting instead that something waswrong with the resort's swimming pool. The tragedy took place on Christmas Eveas the family-of-five was holidaying at Club La Costa World in the southernSpanish resort of Mijas.

"The threeof them knew how to swim," said Olubunmi Diya in a statement publishedFriday by the family's London-based church on Facebook, adding that the wholefamily was present when the incident happened. "The children went into the pool using the steps but foundthemselves dragged into the middle, which was deeper and called for help whenthey could not get out," she said, describing how her husband then enteredthe water to help them.

"I believesomething was wrong with the pool that must have made swimming difficult forthem at that point in time."

Gabriel Diya, 52,a Christian pastor, died alongside his nine-year-old daughter Comfort and his16-year-old son Praise-Emmanuel, who holds American nationality. "We aredeeply shocked, saddened and struggling to come to terms with theirpassing," Olubunmi Diya added. Sources close to the Spanish investigationhad earlier said that a surviving sister had told police that the three did notknow how to swim.  Police had examinedthe pool's filters to see if the young girl had somehow been sucked in by thewater purification system, a spokesman said.

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