A tragic incident unfolded as a five-year-old boy, described as “loving,” lost his life while swimming in a pool during a family holiday in Greece. Theo Treharne-Jones, hailing from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, was vacationing with his family at the Atlantica Holiday Village on the island of Kos in June 2019 when he was discovered in an outdoor pool at the resort.
The inquest conducted at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court revealed that the family, including Theo, who had the neurodevelopmental disorder Smith-Magenis syndrome and was nonverbal, had returned to the holiday village after nine months. They were allocated a different part of the complex during this visit, with door mechanisms that his mother, Nina Treharne, highlighted as incapable of being locked.
Nina Treharne, accompanied by her partner Richard Jones and their children aged 16, 13, 5, and 3, as well as Nina’s sister, her partner, and their two children, pointed out the absence of a door chain in their accommodation. Due to the door’s inability to lock, the family decided to secure it by placing suitcases and buggies as a precaution. Nina expressed her belief that any attempted entry or exit would disturb these items, alerting them.
On the fateful morning of June 15, Nina woke up to find the room door slightly open and heard a woman urgently calling out about a child in the pool. Rushing outside, she was met with chaotic scenes and distressing news. Theo’s father, Mr. Jones, initially thought a child was near the pool and hurried there, only to discover his son receiving CPR on a sun lounger with staff and other guests trying to help.
Despite the valiant efforts of holidaymakers and resort staff who administered CPR and used a defibrillator to revive Theo, the young boy tragically passed away after being transported to the hospital. Mr. Jones emotionally reminisced about his son, describing him as “loving, affectionate, happy, and possessing an infectious laugh and smile.”
The inquest is ongoing.