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TOT TRAGEDY

Boy, 4, drowns in pool two weeks after his family moved to the Caribbean for work

Finn McCarthy lost his life while using the pool of a housing complex in Puerto Rico where he was staying with his family

AN Irish boy of four has died in a drowning accident in the Caribbean.

Little Finn McCarthy, from Blackrock, Co Dublin, lost his life on Saturday, just two weeks after he moved with his family to Puerto Rico, it has emerged.

 Tragic Finn McCarthy died in a drowning accident in Puerto Rico
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 Tragic Finn McCarthy died in a drowning accident in Puerto RicoCredit: Array
 Finn pictured with his mum Sinead, who was last night being comforted by relatives
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Finn pictured with his mum Sinead, who was last night being comforted by relativesCredit: Array

The accident happened shortly before 3pm local time at the pool in the housing complex in the Palm Real estate, Guaynabo, where the family had been staying.

His devastated parents Tony and Sinead McCarthy, originally from Co Kerry, and their two other young sons were last night being comforted by relatives.

It is understood the McCarthys only moved to the Caribbean within the past few weeks as Tony took up a new role as a senior engineer with the multi-national company Amgen.

Puerto Rican police told the Irish Sun that they had received a call just before 3pm on Saturday afternoon alerting them to the incident.

In a statement, they said: “An unfortunate incident was reported at Palma de Coco Street in the Palm Real estate in Guaynabo.

“A call to the 911 system alerted authorities to a drowned minor at this address.

“Upon arrival, units from Guaynabo District found the body of Finn McCarthy Reyes, aged four, drowned in the swimming pool area. The alarm had been raised by Anthony McCarthy, a resident in the mentioned complex and father of the boy.

"Units from Guaynabo District, together with Caguas CID and social services are investigating the incident.”

However, it is understood cops are treating the drowning as a tragic accident.

 The San Juan region of Puerto Rico where the tragic accident took place
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The San Juan region of Puerto Rico where the tragic accident took placeCredit: Getty Images

Finn is the second Irish child to die abroad in a drowning tragedy in a matter of weeks.

Last week a 12-year-old Irish lad died just four days after he was rescued from drowning in a Barcelona holiday hotel pool.

The boy was taken to Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona after poolside lifeguards revived him.

He was staying with relatives at the Guitart Central Park Resort and Spa Hotel in the Costa Brava resort of Lloret de Mar.

It is believed the boy was swimming with his sister when he got into difficulty and she raised the alarm.

When contacted by The Sun the Department of Foreign Affairs had no knowledge of the tragedy in Puerto Rico.


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