Dear Sir or Madam,
Re: Official complaint in respect of the tragic death of Mr Gabriel Diya and his two children.
My name is Dayo Olomu and I am a British born Nigerian community leader based in London.
I am shocked to learn that the pool in which Mr Gabriel Giya and his two children died on Christmas Eve was re-opened so soon – less than 48 hours after the tragic incident.
I must say that your action is grossly insensitive and shows no regard whatsoever for the deceased and their family members.
Clearly a thorough investigation is required given the newspaper reports that:
• The tragedy unfolded when a 9-year-old girl began having difficulties in the pool.
• The girl’s swimming cap was found in the pump.
• When her father jumped in to rescue her, he then became trapped, too.
• Another family member, a 16-year-old, then entered the water to help, but all three died, said Jorge Martín, a spokesman for the Civil Guard of Malaga Province, where the accident happened.
• Accidents linked to faulty drainage or pumping systems in pools have happened before. In 2002, a 7-year-old girl from McLean, Va., drowned in a spa when she became entrapped by the powerful drag of a portal sucking water into a filtration system, and a man and three children died at a water park in Texas in 2004.
• According to Jorge Martin, “The question about why the girl, the father and the third member of the family had problems to get out of the swimming pool is being investigated,” he said, adding that officers were also awaiting autopsy results.
• Mr. Martín said that investigators were looking into whether “there were some problems with the engine of the swimming pool” and whether there was a problem with the suction mechanism of the pool’s drain.
• A worker at the resort, responding to other vacationers’ cries for help, jumped into the pool to help the family members but was too late, Mr. Martín said.
• Although the worker managed to retrieve the bodies, he also reported difficulties in getting out of the pool, describing the effect as being “like swimming in a wild river,” according to Mr. Martín.
• Late Wednesday, your company said that investigators had already concluded that there was no problem with the pool’s systems, but the authorities said they had yet to reach such a finding.
This apparent disregard for life will cause many of your members to reconsider their membership going forward. Like millions others, I certainly will think twice about ever booking a holiday with you again.
It is important that you do the right thing and close the pool until a thorough investigation is concluded.
Yours faithfully,
Dayo Olomu.
