A three-year-old British girl tragically died after being pulled from a swimming pool while on a family holiday in Mallorca, an inquest has heard.
What Happened
Eleri Ellesmere, from New Tredegar, Gwent, was staying with her parents Joe and Cerys at Villa Francisca, a rural home near Pollenca, on the evening of June 24. The family described the incident as a "tragic accident" that turned their "idyllic family holiday" into "every parent's worst nightmare."
Eleri was found unresponsive in the pool and family members performed CPR before she was rushed to Son Espases Hospital in Palma. Despite the best efforts of medics, who the family say "battled tirelessly" to save her, she was pronounced dead the following day, Gwent Coroner's Court was told.
Cause of Death
Coroner Rose Farmer opened and adjourned the inquest to April 13, 2027. The provisional cause of death was given as 1a mechanical asphyxiation by drowning, respiratory failure.
Family's Heartbreak
Eleri's mother Cerys said: "What should have been an idyllic family holiday has turned into every parent's worst nightmare. A nightmare we cannot wake up from. Our precious little Eleri Fairy was involved in an accident during the holiday."
She added: "Unfortunately, despite unbelievable effort and attempts to heal our little girl made by us and the Palma health services, we were left with her on life sustaining support. Me and Joe were with her every single second and our little girl showed incomprehensible strength to try and stay with us. This was not enough."
The family were devastated when Eleri's heart stopped beating at the Spanish hospital. Cerys said: "At 13:40 CEST on 25/06/2026 our fairy's heart stopped for the very last time. We are broken, we have no words. It is like the world has stopped and we have no breath."
Fundraising for Funeral
A fundraising page was launched to support the family with funeral costs. It stated: "As a family, we are coming together to raise funds for our cherished family members, the heartbroken parents of their beautiful daughter, Eleri Ellesmere. Eleri was deeply loved, and her loss has left an unimaginable emptiness in all of our lives."
The page added: "No family should ever have to endure such pain, and yet we are now facing the most devastating chapter a mother, father and surrounding family can experience. We want to surround them with love, support, and care in every way possible."
Funds will help ensure Eleri receives a funeral "filled with dignity, love, and respect" and allow her parents time to grieve without financial worry.
