Theo Treharne-Jones who drowned in Kos pool was 'excitable’ boy

---

A tragic incident occurred during a family holiday in Greece, where a five-year-old boy named Theo Treharne-Jones drowned in a hotel pool at Atlantica Holiday Village in Kos on 15 June 2019. Described as an “excitable, happy, loving little child” with “no sense of danger,” Theo’s mother, Nina Treharne, revealed that her son had Smith-Magenis syndrome which led to “autistic behaviors” making him less naturally cautious.

During the inquest at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court, it was highlighted that the family had stayed at the same hotel nine months earlier but were given different rooms with inadequate security measures. The lack of a door chain in their room allowed Theo to wander unaccompanied, ultimately leading to the tragedy. The ordeal began when shouts woke the family in the morning, alerting them to Theo’s presence in the pool, turning their holiday experience into a nightmare.

Despite the efforts of guests who administered CPR, including Theo’s father and a first aid expert staying at the hotel, the lack of a defibrillator on the premises raised concerns about the emergency response. The inquest highlighted the challenges faced in obtaining necessary medical equipment promptly and the potential impact on the outcome had the defibrillator been readily available at the scene.

The tragic incident shed light on safety concerns at the hotel, prompting a closer examination of the door-locking mechanisms and compliance with safety standards. The audit conducted prior to Theo’s death flagged some safety issues, but none were deemed critical enough to pose a risk to life. The inquest also revealed that TUI, the travel company overseeing the hotel, had assessed the feasibility of installing door chains but deemed it too risky in case of fire hazards. The cause of Theo’s untimely death was determined to be drowning, emphasizing the importance of stringent safety measures around pool areas

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

---