Investigation and inquest
On 4th March 2016 I concluded the inquest into the death of Alfie Wayne Eddie Gray born 2nd November 2007 (aged 7 years), who died on 7 July 2015. I determined that Alfie Gray had died an accidental death having drowned.
Circumstances of the death
On 6th July 2015 Alfie Gray and his family travelled to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt along with another family. They stayed at the Reef Oasis Beach Resort. The holiday had been organised by the Global Travel Group.
On 7th July 2015 Alfie was playing in the pool at the hotel resort along with other family members. The pool had a waterfall coming into it. The pool should have been monitored by lifeguards. Just after lunch Alfie’s mum left the pool side to collect a bottle for her baby and when she returned she noticed that Alfie was missing.
Staff at the resort did not take the incident seriously and it was left for family and other holiday makers to search for Alfie. Sadly he is found at the bottom of the pool under the waterfall. The time between the family realising that he was missing and Alfie being found was around 45 mins. It was clear from the evidence that he had been found sooner he may well have been able to have been resuscitated.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) The provision of lifeguards. It appeared that the number of lifeguards on duty at this resort were inadequate. The life guards did not have any medical training and communication with the holiday makers proved difficult when help was needed.
(2) The lifeguards went off duty for an hour over lunchtime. This information was not communicated to the family either by the hotel or the travel company.
I consider that the issues raised in this case have much wider implications which should be addressed by Travel Companies so that future deaths do not occur in similar circumstances and that action should be taken to reduce the risk of deaths.