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| Costa del Sol: Mother says husband and children who drowned could swim | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A woman whose husband and two children drowned in a resort swimming pool on the Costa del Sol on Christmas Eve has insisted all three knew how to swim. | A woman whose husband and two children drowned in a resort swimming pool on the Costa del Sol on Christmas Eve has insisted all three knew how to swim. |
| Spanish police concluded Gabriel Diya, 52, his daughter Comfort Diya, nine, and his son Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died after becoming out of their depth. | Spanish police concluded Gabriel Diya, 52, his daughter Comfort Diya, nine, and his son Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died after becoming out of their depth. |
| But Olubunmi Diya has denied that - and said "something was wrong with the pool" at the resort in Fuengirola. | |
| Hotel operator Club La Costa World said the pool was "working normally". | Hotel operator Club La Costa World said the pool was "working normally". |
| Earlier, Spanish media reported another of Mrs Diya's daughters had told police the three who drowned could not swim. | Earlier, Spanish media reported another of Mrs Diya's daughters had told police the three who drowned could not swim. |
| But, in a statement released to the media, Mrs Diya said "We never informed the police or anyone that the family members could not swim." | But, in a statement released to the media, Mrs Diya said "We never informed the police or anyone that the family members could not swim." |
| She added: "I believe something was wrong with the pool that must have made swimming difficult for them at that point in time. | She added: "I believe something was wrong with the pool that must have made swimming difficult for them at that point in time. |
| "My husband went in via the steps trying to help the two struggling [children] while I ran to the nearby apartments shouting for help to assist my husband. | "My husband went in via the steps trying to help the two struggling [children] while I ran to the nearby apartments shouting for help to assist my husband. |
| "By the time assistance came, the three of them were under the water." | "By the time assistance came, the three of them were under the water." |
| In response to Mrs Diya's statement, Club La Costa World resort said: "Diligent and exhaustive police investigations into this tragedy have confirmed that the pool was working normally and there was no malfunction of any kind. | In response to Mrs Diya's statement, Club La Costa World resort said: "Diligent and exhaustive police investigations into this tragedy have confirmed that the pool was working normally and there was no malfunction of any kind. |
| "Our sympathies remain with the family at what we understand must be a stressful and desperately upsetting time for them." | "Our sympathies remain with the family at what we understand must be a stressful and desperately upsetting time for them." |
| A spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard said divers retrieved Comfort's swimming hat from the pool pump but investigators had found nothing wrong with the pool, which has since reopened. | A spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard said divers retrieved Comfort's swimming hat from the pool pump but investigators had found nothing wrong with the pool, which has since reopened. |
| They also confirmed there were no lifeguards at the pool because it was so small it was "not necessary". | They also confirmed there were no lifeguards at the pool because it was so small it was "not necessary". |
| Paying tribute to her husband and children, Mrs Diya said she was "utterly heartbroken". | Paying tribute to her husband and children, Mrs Diya said she was "utterly heartbroken". |
| She added: "We are deeply shocked, saddened and struggling to come to terms with their passing. | She added: "We are deeply shocked, saddened and struggling to come to terms with their passing. |
| "They all brought a joy and love to the world and to everyone that crossed their path. | "They all brought a joy and love to the world and to everyone that crossed their path. |
| "We love them all dearly, will always remember them in our hearts and miss them greatly." | "We love them all dearly, will always remember them in our hearts and miss them greatly." |
| Mr Diya was a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in south-east London. | Mr Diya was a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in south-east London. |
| In a Facebook post on Friday, the church said: "He was a loving husband and devoted father. He was also a humble, friendly and committed pastor and Christian leader." | In a Facebook post on Friday, the church said: "He was a loving husband and devoted father. He was also a humble, friendly and committed pastor and Christian leader." |
| Comfort was described by the head teacher of her primary school as "the most wonderfully kind, thoughtful, caring pupil" who was a "role model" for her peers. | Comfort was described by the head teacher of her primary school as "the most wonderfully kind, thoughtful, caring pupil" who was a "role model" for her peers. |