The five-year-old girl was pulled unconscious from a hotel swimming pool in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, on Thursday and was then treated in a hospital in Gran Canaria
08:32, 09 Aug 2025Updated 08:33, 09 Aug 2025
A five year old British girl sadly died on a family holiday in Spain(Image: Getty Images)
A five year old British girl, found unconscious in a swimming pool during a family holiday in Spain, has tragically passed away. The young girl was rushed to the Maternal and Child University Hospital of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on Thursday but sadly could not be saved.
This marks the fourth drowning fatality in the Canary Islands already in 2025 – the highest tally in at least the past decade. Reports suggest that the child suffered ‘irreversible brain death’ following her submersion in the pool.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff at the hospital in Gran Canaria’s capital, attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful, leaving her family heartbroken. The devastating incident took place on Thursday morning while the unnamed girl was with her family at a resort in the Pájara municipality.
She was retrieved from the water before the pool’s lifeguard attempted to revive her. Once stabilised, she was transported to the General Hospital of Fuerteventura. However, due to the critical nature of her condition, she was airlifted to Gran Canaria, reports the Mirror.
This represents the fourth instance of a minor losing their life to drowning in the Canary Islands this year alone. Back in April, a toddler perished in Lago Taurito, located in the southern part of Gran Canaria. In that tragic event, a two year old girl drowned at the water park whilst enjoying a day out with her family, who are residents of the island.
In a statement, a campaign group said: “The five-year-old girl who suffered a critical drowning episode in the pool of a hotel in Morro Jable (Pájara, Fuerteventura) died today. Due to the severe neurological consequences, she entered the so-called “brain death” stage.
“The little girl was spending her vacation on the island of Fuerteventura with her family, originally from England. It was around 1.30am when the unconscious girl was pulled from the pool. Lifeguards performed CPR. The medical personnel from a SUC ambulance then continued providing care.
“Due to the seriousness of the case, she was urgently evacuated by medical helicopter to the Materno Infantil University Hospital. A terrible and difficult episode, once again. Due to the seriousness of the case, she was urgently evacuated by medical helicopter to the Materno Infantil University Hospital.
“Despite the efforts of the medical team, the little girl was unable to overcome the dramatic event that took her life.”
“We at @canarias1500kmdecosta would like to express our condolences and solidarity to her family. Please take care of and supervise your children in the water.”
Following the incident, The Canary 112 emergency service promptly reported: “A child aged five recovered from cardiac arrest and was transferred in serious condition by medical helicopter from the SUC to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands.”