A heartbroken father has paid tribute to his five-year-old son who tragically drowned in a swimming pool just an hour after arriving at a resort for a summer holiday with his family.
Robin Caliskan had only just got to the Atlantic Reach holiday park in Newquay, Cornwall, and had helped his mum and dad, Ferzane and Cemal Caliskan, pitch their tent before heading for a swim with them and his six-month-old baby brother, Renas.
Father and son headed to the main pool, while mum Ferzane and baby Renas stayed in the baby pool. Cemal took happy photos of the family before tragedy struck on Monday.
It’s reported Robin asked to go to see his mum and brother and along the way from one pool to the other, he got into difficulty. His parents said due to the “low lighting” and “barriers” they didn’t immediately notice.
Speaking to CornwallLive, Cemal, from Plymouth, said: “I 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. We just wanted to share this to stop it happening again, to any other parents and any other children.”
Describing little Robin, Cemal said he “loved hugs” and was a “very cute and clever” little boy. “He was intelligent and his handwriting, he could write with both hands,” he said. Robin adored his baby brother Renas and “would love to put him on his legs and rock him”.
A spokesperson for Atlantic Read said: “We do not feel it is appropriate to comment further at this stage, except to say our thoughts are with the family at this time.
“Atlantic Reach is committed to supporting our guests and community, as well as our team that provided immediate assistance. As such we respectfully ask that all those affected are given time and space at this distressing time.”
Devon and Cornwall Police, along with Cornwall Council Health and Safety, are undertaking enquiries in relation to the circumstances surrounding this death.
A police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a child at a holiday park in Newquay.
“Police were informed by the ambulance service that a five-year-old boy had drowned in a swimming pool within Atlantic Reach Holiday Park, yesterday afternoon (Monday 31 July). The boy is from the Plymouth area and his next of kin are aware, the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is to be prepared for the coroner.
“Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police along with representatives from Cornwall Council Health and Safety are undertaking enquiries in relation to the circumstances surrounding this death.”
