AN IRISH SCHOOLBOY has died in hospital four days after being saved from drowning in his holiday hotel pool.
The 12-year-old was rushed to Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona last Thursday afternoon around 4pm after being revived by the poolside by lifeguards and local police at the hotel he was staying at with relatives in the Costa Brava resort of Lloret de Mar.
Hospital sources confirmed overnight he had lost his fight for life after four days in intensive care.
The youngster has not yet been named. The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the boy’s family.
Initial reports last week said it appeared the youngster, who knew how to swim, had jumped or fallen into the water from the second level of the pool and failed to surface.
But a source said today he was swimming with his 14-year-old sister when she spotted him in difficulties and raised the alarm.
The source said: “He was swimming and went under water and seconds later his sister realised he was drowning not swimming and screamed for help.
Other holidaymakers got him out of the water before the lifeguards rushed over and started to try to resuscitate him with the help of a doctor who was staying at the hotel.
“The local police arrived very quickly with a defibrillator and managed to get his heart going again.”
The schoolboy was staying with part of a group of seven people who included his mother, aunt, older sister and nephews and nieces.
They had only arrived the day before the tragedy and were due to check out of the hotel today.
It is understood the boy’s dad, who is separated from his mother, flew to Spain after being told of last week’s incident.
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