Boy, 5, drowned in pool after getting separated from parents

A five-year-old boy was found face down at the bottom of a holiday park swimming pool after he had become separated from his parents, an inquest has heard. Robin Caliskan died Atlantic Reach Holiday Park near Newquay, Cornwall, last year after going for a swim in the indoor pool

The inquest in Truro heard Robin and his family had arrived at the holiday park on July 31, 2023, to begin their stay. After setting up their tent, the family decided to enjoy the amenities and went for a swim in the holiday centre's indoor pool.

It was during this time Robin, from Plymouth, became separated from his parents and was subsequently found unresponsive in the water. Despite the efforts of the public and paramedics, the boy could not be revived.

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Robin's dad, Cemal Caliskan, an electrical engineer originally hailing from Turkey, recounted the events through an interpreter. He said: "I looked at the big pool at first, it was very crowded, there were adults and lots of children, when I saw the children swimming I thought: 'Fine,' so me and Robin headed to the big pool."

He explained that after around ten minutes, they moved to the baby pool to join his wife and other son, where they even took a family photo. Mr Caliskan continued: "I took our little boy from my wife, I decided to look after him for a bit and I said to my wife: 'If you want to go to the big pool, you can' and she decided to go in the big pool.

"Robin was just playing there, my wife was heading to the big pool and Robin said: 'Can I go please? ' He wanted to go with my wife, his mum, and I said: 'OK, but you need to stay with your mum, go with your mum.'".

"Then he followed my wife. It was so crowded in the big pool I can't be 100% sure if Robin was following my wife or beside her. I could just see my wife and there was a child next to my wife and I thought that was Robin. I was sure he was with her."

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Mr Caliskan said after a while his wife returned without Robin, it was at that point they realised he was missing. He continued: "We noticed that people had taken someone out of the pool and they all gathered at one location and we decided to go there as well. When I arrived there I saw two people trying to give treatment to Robin."

The inquest saw photographs of signs around the pool area which read "No lifeguard on duty", including in the men's and women's changing rooms, with another post by the poolside echoing the warning.

Despite this, Mr Caliskan insisted he did not see the signs, mentioning that he had previously seen Facebook photos indicating the presence of lifeguards at the pool and had spotted what he believed was an individual in lifeguard attire on the day of the incident. .

Mr Caliskan expressed regret saying: "I didn't see signs about lifeguards; if I did, I would definitely go back to reception and say: 'I thought you had lifeguards? ' and ask them questions.'".

Paediatric consultant Samantha Holden stated in a declaration that the post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be drowning. The hearing continues.