A five-year-old boy has drowned in a swimming pool at a Cornish holiday park, just an hour after arriving for a family holiday. Robin Caliskal was swimming with his parents and six-month-old brother at the Atlantic Reach holiday park in Newquay when he got into difficulty. Medics were called just after 5pm on Monday but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Robin and his parents, Ferzane and Cemal Caliskal, from Plymouth, Devon, had set up their tent and headed straight for the pool. Cemal said Robin had been with him in the main pool and asked to join his mother and brother in the children’s pool. However, due to low lighting and barriers, he did not notice his son was drowning until it was too late.
Robin’s mother described him as a “very cute and clever” boy who “loved hugs”. She urged other parents to be vigilant, saying: “We want every parent to see this story. This can’t happen again. We are suffering pain and we don’t want any parents to have a similar feeling.” She added that Robin adored his baby brother and was keen on dinosaurs.
The death is not being treated as suspicious, and an investigation is under way by Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council health and safety. A police statement said a file would be prepared for the coroner, and an inquest will be opened at a later date.
Atlantic Reach holiday park expressed devastation, saying: “We are absolutely heartbroken that a child sadly passed away here at our resort yesterday.” The park closed its indoor and outdoor pools until further notice, with the leisure club reopening on Tuesday.
