Brit boy, 4, drowned in Tenerife hotel pool ‘after his armbands were removed so he could eat’
Presley Stockton died just a day after arriving at the four-star Paradise Park hotel for a family holiday
A BRITISH four-year-old who drowned in a Tenerife hotel swimming pool had his armbands removed after complaining that he couldn't eat properly, an inquest heard.
Presley Stockton died just a day after arriving at the four-star Paradise Park hotel in the popular resort of Los Cristianos for a family holiday.
The "much-loved" youngster was pulled out of the pool after being spotted face down on September 19 last year.
An inquest heard Presley had been "very excited" about going away with family and friends, especially his mum Kirsty Jolley and dad Peter Stockton.
Little Presley had been wearing inflatable armbands when playing by the pool but forget to put them back on after lunch.
Relatives didn't attend the hearing, which consisted entirely of written statements from police, medical staff and members of Presley's family.
In a written statement from dad Mr Stockton, he said: "He was bought some armbands to wear around the pool and other items to play with by his family.
He complained that he couldn't eat properly with the armbands on so they were taken off
Peter Stockton, little Presley's dad
"At lunchtime, in the early afternoon, he had something to eat.
"He complained that he couldn't eat properly with the armbands on so they were taken off."
A short time later, the inquest heard, the youngster headed for the pool with a group of friends who he had been playing with.
Senior coroner Alan Walsh said: "Suddenly his father heard one of the children shouting "Presley".
"It was discovered that he had gone in the pool.
DAD HEARD CHILDREN SCREAMING 'PRESLEY'
"He was rescued and attempts were made to resuscitate him, but sadly he had died at the hotel."
Walsh concluded that Presley's death was accidental.
He said: "There were precautions taken with the exception of that very short period. It's unimaginable to me that this should occur in this moment."
A post mortem examination conducted at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital found that Presley, from Hindley near Wigan, died from drowning.
Since his death, the family - in particular, Presley's grandad Mike Jolley - have campaigned to raise the importance of swimming lessons for youngsters.
Jolley, 49, said his grandson had been taken to the swimming baths as an infant - but had never properly learned how to swim.
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He is hoping to lobby the Government to provide more funding for preschool swimming lessons.
His campaign has been backed by Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue, who said: "This would be a fitting tribute to the memory of Presley.
The grief-stricken family have claimed the lifeguard at the Tenerife hotel pool was busy "chatting to girls" at the time the child died.
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