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| UK father and children who drowned in Costa del Sol pool named | UK father and children who drowned in Costa del Sol pool named |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gabriel Diya, his son Praise-Emmanuel and daughter Comfort died at holiday resort | Gabriel Diya, his son Praise-Emmanuel and daughter Comfort died at holiday resort |
| Police in Spain have named the three members of a British family who drowned in a hotel swimming pool on the Costa del Sol on Christmas Eve. | Police in Spain have named the three members of a British family who drowned in a hotel swimming pool on the Costa del Sol on Christmas Eve. |
| They were identified as Gabriel Diya, a 52 year-old London-based pastor,his son Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, and daughter Comfort Diya, nine. | They were identified as Gabriel Diya, a 52 year-old London-based pastor,his son Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, and daughter Comfort Diya, nine. |
| They died at the Club La Costa World resort on the Spanish coast, about two miles to the south of Fuengirola and about 20 miles from Málaga. | They died at the Club La Costa World resort on the Spanish coast, about two miles to the south of Fuengirola and about 20 miles from Málaga. |
| Diya was minister in charge at Open Heavens in Charlton, south-east London, which is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a Nigeria-based network of religious groups. | Diya was minister in charge at Open Heavens in Charlton, south-east London, which is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a Nigeria-based network of religious groups. |
| According to Spanish police, Comfort got into difficulty while playing in one of the 21 swimming pools at the resort. | According to Spanish police, Comfort got into difficulty while playing in one of the 21 swimming pools at the resort. |
| Her father and older brother jumped in to try to save her but also struggled in the water. Despite poolside attempts to resuscitate them, all three died at the scene. A witness told the Mirror that Diya’s wife prayed as CPR was performed on her husband and children. | Her father and older brother jumped in to try to save her but also struggled in the water. Despite poolside attempts to resuscitate them, all three died at the scene. A witness told the Mirror that Diya’s wife prayed as CPR was performed on her husband and children. |
| Postmortem examinations carried out on Christmas Day confirmed death by drowning, Spanish police confirmed. | Postmortem examinations carried out on Christmas Day confirmed death by drowning, Spanish police confirmed. |
| A neighbour of the family described the Diyas as “very religious, very friendly, very humble” and said she was “devastated” by the news of tragedy. | |
| Speaking outside her home in Charlton, south-east London, Lara Akins, 59, added: “I still can’t comprehend it, it’s still shocking. They are so nice, that is why everybody is shocked... we are very friendly with each other.” | |
| After the incident police divers retrieved the girl’s swimming hat from the pool’s pump, but found nothing wrong with the pool’s filtration and pump system. | After the incident police divers retrieved the girl’s swimming hat from the pool’s pump, but found nothing wrong with the pool’s filtration and pump system. |
| The pool did not have lifeguards on duty at the time of incident, according to local reports. It has since reopened to the public. | The pool did not have lifeguards on duty at the time of incident, according to local reports. It has since reopened to the public. |
| The UK’s central office of the RCCG described the death of Diya and his two children as a “tragic accident”. | The UK’s central office of the RCCG described the death of Diya and his two children as a “tragic accident”. |
| In a Facebook post it said Diya is survived by another daughter and his wife, Olubunmi Diya, who is an assistant pastor at Open Heavens. | In a Facebook post it said Diya is survived by another daughter and his wife, Olubunmi Diya, who is an assistant pastor at Open Heavens. |
| It said: “At this very difficult time, our prayers are with Pastor Gabriel Diya’s family, the parishes that were under his supervision, friends, associates, members of RCCG and the general public.” | It said: “At this very difficult time, our prayers are with Pastor Gabriel Diya’s family, the parishes that were under his supervision, friends, associates, members of RCCG and the general public.” |
| Emma Morris, 38, daughter of another neighbour of the Diyas, said: “They were just a really nice family, they spoke to everyone here. It’s so sad, it’s such a shame.” | |
| And Mohsin Sharif said the Diya family would occasionally shop at his convenience store. “I’m really feeling sad,” he said, “it’s a good community, they speak to each other.” | |
| Management at the resort said all the staff are “devastated by the tragedy” . It said that “despite the best efforts of our first response team and the emergency services”, the family could not be revived. | Management at the resort said all the staff are “devastated by the tragedy” . It said that “despite the best efforts of our first response team and the emergency services”, the family could not be revived. |
| In a statement, it added: “The Guardia Civil have carried out a full investigation which found no concerns relating to the pool in question or procedures in place, which leaves us to believe this was a tragic accident which has left everyone surrounding the incident in shock. | In a statement, it added: “The Guardia Civil have carried out a full investigation which found no concerns relating to the pool in question or procedures in place, which leaves us to believe this was a tragic accident which has left everyone surrounding the incident in shock. |
| “Naturally, our primary concern remains the care and support of the remaining family members; we would therefore request that their privacy be respected at this traumatic time.” | “Naturally, our primary concern remains the care and support of the remaining family members; we would therefore request that their privacy be respected at this traumatic time.” |
| In a Facebook post celebrating new year 2018, Diya wrote: “I am so grateful to the ALMIGHTY GOD, the OWNER of my life, my Maker, my Shield, my Exceeding Joy & my Sustainer for everything and for all things since all these years.” | In a Facebook post celebrating new year 2018, Diya wrote: “I am so grateful to the ALMIGHTY GOD, the OWNER of my life, my Maker, my Shield, my Exceeding Joy & my Sustainer for everything and for all things since all these years.” |
| It is understood Gabriel Diya and Comfort were British citizens, while Praise-Emmanuel was an American citizen. | It is understood Gabriel Diya and Comfort were British citizens, while Praise-Emmanuel was an American citizen. |