A British teenager has drowned in a swimming pool while on holiday in Turkey celebrating a family wedding.
The 14-year-old was said to have gotten into difficulty while swimming with his aunt at the all-inclusive Liberty Lara beach hotel on Sunday afternoon.
It’s believed the boy and his family were at the 311-room resort for a wedding.
The five-star rated Liberty Lara has five swimming pools, including one with a water slide. It also boasts of a luxury spa, an all-inclusive restaurant and four bars.
The trip had been booked through the holiday firm Tui.
One witness claimed the boy was pulled unconscious from the pool by a barman and given CPR at the scene, before being rushed to the hospital.
They claimed that there were no lifeguards on duty at the time, something the hotel has strongly denied.
The onlooker told The Sun: “This happened at around 1pm and we heard the lifeguard had gone for his lunch.
“They tried very hard to revive the boy at the side of the pool but it was too late. It’s so sad, particularly when you consider they were there for such a happy reason.”
A spokesperson for Tui told The Mirror: "We are aware of the tragic incident at the Liberty Lara in Turkey and our thoughts are with the family. Our team in resort is currently supporting the family and we will continue to assist in whatever way we can.
"The safety and wellbeing of our customers is our primary concern and our dedicated resort team is supporting the authorities and hotel with their investigations."
A hotel spokesman told The Sun: “It is with a heavy heart that one of our young guests sadly passed away yesterday while swimming with his aunt in our main pool.
“At this moment in time, our prayers and thoughts go out to the family and loved ones who are currently residing in our hotel.
“The sad, tragic loss of a young life is both devastating and shattering for the family, close relatives and loved ones. Out of respect for the family, we would like to refrain from making any comment about the incident until we receive the outcome of the autopsy.”
When asked about the claims about the lifeguards not being on duty, the spokesman said it was “categorically untrue”.
The Mirror contacted the hotel for comment.
