Tragic Drowning of Schoolgirl in Shallow Hotel Pool During First Family Holiday
An 11-year-old girl from Cheshire, who was described as being "terrified" of water, has tragically drowned in a "very, very shallow" hotel pool during her first family holiday overseas, a coroner's court has heard. The incident occurred at the Club Jandia Princess Hotel in Fuerteventura, Spain, casting a shadow over what should have been a joyous family vacation.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Francesca Blease, from Crewe, was discovered floating face down in the children's pool at the resort on the afternoon of August 7 last year. The young girl had been playing with other children for fewer than ten minutes before another guest spotted her motionless body in the water. It remains unclear exactly how long she had been submerged, though HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish noted it "could not have been for very long".
Immediate efforts were made to save Francesca's life. Two holidaymakers – a midwife and an intensive care physiotherapist – began administering "appropriate" CPR beside the pool before emergency services arrived. She was subsequently transported by helicopter to a hospital in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, where she passed away the following day due to severe brain hypoxia.
Coroner's Findings and Family Testimony
During the inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court, it was revealed that Francesca was unable to swim and had no direct supervision at the time. However, Coroner Devonish emphasised that, based on the evidence presented, there was no predictable danger for a child her age in such a shallow pool, which measured between 10cm and 60cm deep.
"There is no expectation that this could have occurred," Ms Devonish stated. "There was no reason for her family to believe that she could have come to harm in the circumstances." The coroner ruled the death accidental, noting that no evidence of injury was discovered and that Francesca displayed no warning signs of distress, with fellow swimmers remaining unaware of any trouble.
In a heartfelt statement delivered to the court, Francesca's mother, Joanne Blease, described her daughter as a "smiley, happy, healthy baby, which is also the child she grew into". She explained that this was their maiden family holiday overseas and that Francesca was allowed to play in the shallow children's pool because she was "terrified" of water and did not want to enter the adult pool.
Expert Testimony and Unanswered Questions
Consultant anaesthetist Dr Patrick Morgan, a specialist in drowning physiology, provided testimony suggesting one theory: that Francesca – who harboured a fear of water with no significant ability to swim – may have lost her balance, become frightened, and inadvertently breathed in water. The coroner acknowledged that there were suggestions of youngsters engaging in a breath-holding competition, but this was dismissed as "simply hearsay".
Ms Devonish expressed sympathy to the family, stating: "Unfortunately we do have an area of evidence where we cannot say for certain what caused Francesca to find herself in that position where she was face down in the pool. It is unfortunate that we have not been able to understand that."
Joanne Blease poignantly added in her statement: "A part of me died" on the day she lost her daughter. "I feel her absence always like a constant missing piece. Francesca would light up any room she was in. She never had down days and could see happiness in everything."
