Roan’s dad was on holiday in Devon when he had a phone call no parent should ever receive
Anders Anglesey and Molly Seaman
11:33, 10 Jul 2025
Roan Bloore(Image: The Mirror/ Family handout )
A young man died in a “freak paddling pool accident” while his parents were on holiday in Devon.
Roan Bloore was emptying a paddling pool that his nieces and nephews had used during the heatwave when he reportedly fainted, reports The Mirror.
The 24-year-old lay submerged in nine inches of water for around 10 minutes before being discovered.
Despite best efforts by emergency services to perform CPR and paramedics successfully restarting his heart, Roan suffered organ failure due to oxygen deprivation to his brain, leading to his death on June 26.
Speaking to MailOnline, Roan’s devastated dad said he and his wife were not able to say goodbye as they were stuck in traffic.
The dad-of-four said: “I’m ripped to pieces, one of my babies is gone. I had four children and now I have three.”
Michael and his wife, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, were vacationing in Devon when they received the dreadful news about Roan.
They had been unable to drive due to shock and instead flew back and were escorted by police to the hospital where Roan was being treated.
The couple said they missed Roan “by 10 minutes.”
Michael added: “It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I have to stay strong for my wife who is in absolute pieces,” the former telecoms worker said.
He called it a “freak accident” and stressed the importance of supervision around any body of water, regardless of depth.
His brother Deklan was at hand to assist paramedics with CPR and was by Roan’s side as he passed away in the hospital, according to Michael.
He added: “At the age of 24 and he’s drowned when his brother is a lifeguard, it just seems so strange to me. If he had been swept to sea I would understand more. It’s just horrible, I’ve been an absolute zombie.”
Following the tragedy, Roan’s sister Abigail has launched a GoFundMe to assist their parents with funeral expenses.
The GoFundMe page said: “His parents are on benefits due to medical issues and don’t have much money available for the funeral. They’ve applied for help from the DWP but this only covers up to £1,000.
“The price of the funeral we are wanting is only £2,250. Its nothing too big.
“I know people don’t have to help but any help is appreciated more than you can imagine.”
The GoFundMe page has so far raised £1,467 towards a £1,600 goal. To view the fundraiser, click here.