SPS NEWS SPECIAL


QUESTIONS OVER TRIPLE SPANISH HOTEL DROWNINGS


A special investigation into a family tragedy, by Allen J Wilson FISPE, Tech IOSH, MInstSRM


F


ollowing the tragic deaths of three family members at a Spanish hotel pool on Christmas Eve, police


have halted official investigations declaring the incident was a tragic accident.


Gabriel Diya, 52, his daughter, nine-


year-old, Comfort and son Praise- Emmanuel, 16, drowned in a pool at Club La Costa World in Fuengirola while on holiday in December. The investigation into the incident ruled their deaths were a “simple accident”, claiming there was no malfunction with the pool and that the deaths were caused by what they called “lack of swimming expertise.” But the wife and mother of the


victims, Olubunmi Diya, said all three could swim, insisting there was


“something wrong” with the pool that made it difficult for them to get out. Now a special investigation could help shed light on their deaths.


ALLEN WILSON TAKES UP THE STORY: “I was working for ITN who had asked


the complex owner for permission to inspect site. The complex owner procrastinated and delayed any decision, basically preventing us from carrying out an independent inspection. As it was a public area, I walked


around the pool where I was covertly filmed by an ITN camera operator. As can be seen in the ITN video,


shown on television on the night of the January 8, 2020, there were eight skimmer units on one side of the pool.


Each of these is designed to remove approximately 7,000 litres per hour, given a total removal in the region of 56,000 litres per hour. There was only one single sump


outlet and this was of the type seen in domestic pools with a capacity of approximately 12,000 litres per hour. This contravened the guidance from the Federation of Tour Operator standards (FTO) and EN15288. The water level at the time of my inspection was below the mouth of the skimmers and this system was clearly valved off to prevent ‘air locking’ the pump plus avoiding cavitation that could also damage the impellor and pump interior. It is my opinion that on the day in question, December 24th 2019 and


A SINGLE SUMP OUTLET,


similar to the one pictured, contravenes the guidance from the Federation of Tour Operator standards (FTO) and EN15288.


Pic. Library


12


FEBRUARY 2020


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