Irish boy, 2, drowns in Spanish pool tragedy

A two-year-old Irish boy died in a drowning tragedy in Spain yesterday morning.

Local police believe the child died after walking along the wall of his family’s house, losing his balance, and falling into a pool on a neighbouring property just before 11am.

The boy was initially reported to local police as missing by his distraught parents, who could not find him in the house in the El Coto area of Mijas Costas near Fuengirola.

Initial reports suggested the police arrived at the scene to look for the boy and discovered him in the swimming pool.

However, it then emerged that, before the police arrived, the child’s parents had continued to search for him and it was his father who discovered him and desperately tried in vain to revive him.

It is believed the man collapsed after finding his son and required medical attention.

Reports suggest that, while the family is Irish, they had moved to Spain some time ago and are now living there permanently.

There were no details at the time of going to press as to where the family were from in Ireland.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it had seen reports of the death but had not yet received a request for consular assistance, although a spokesman added it would be willing to offer what help it could.

Spanish authorities have launched an investigation into the death.