Canadian child drowns in Trelawny hotel pool

WESTERN BUREAU:

Sadness swept through the Riu Palace Aquarelle Hotel in Trelawny on Monday when a three-year-old child, enjoying a swim with her mother at the hotel pool, reportedly got into difficulty and became unresponsive.

The child, identified as Shea Anderson, a resident of Toronto, Canada, was rushed to Falmouth Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators from the Trelawny Police Division were called to the scene and have since launched an inquiry into the incident; however, no foul play is suspected.

“Based on preliminary investigations, it appears to be nothing more than an unfortunate situation. However, we will be doing a thorough investigation to confirm our belief that what happened was purely accidental,” a police source told The Gleaner.

According to report, the incident occurred approximately 1:45 p.m. when the child and her mother, who were guests at the property, were enjoying the pool. It is unclear as to whether the child had on protective swimming gear.

In a statement, Jorge Satorre Mulet, Riu Hotels & Resorts area manager for Europe, the Caribbean, the US, and Canada, expressed sorrow at the tragedy.

“From the very first moment, we have made ourselves available to offer them (the family) all the support they may need,” he said, expressing condolences.

“We are working closely with the authorities, providing all the required information, and continue to offer all possible support to the family during these painful moments,” added Mulet.

The Riu Palace Aquarelle, a 753-room hotel, is one of the latest addition to Riu’s chain of hotels in Jamaica, having opened just last year. It has quickly earned a reputation for luxury and is popular among visitors to the island.

While drownings at hotel pools are rare, a similar incident occurred in July 2022 when six-year-old Oniel Hume Syers from Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, drowned in a pool at the Grand Palladium Hotel in Hanover.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com