Family 'devastated' by death of child, 3, in swimming pool

A three-year-old who drowned in a pool was "the most amazing, happy, joyful boy you could ever wish to meet", his family say.

Rocco Wright died on Saturday in what the police are treating as a "tragic accident".

The child's father, Steven, said on Monday: "We are all totally devastated by the loss of the most amazing, happy, joyful boy you could ever wish to meet.

"Rocco truly loved life and we will be left with a void forever that can never be filled.

"RIP buddy, we'll love you forever."

The toddler drowned at the David Lloyd Club on Tongue Lane in Leeds.

Rocco was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Mr Wright had taken Rocco and his four-year-old sister to the centre for his daughter's regular swimming lesson.

He says confusion arose over swimming instructors. As one staff member had not arrived, parents were told not all children could be accommodated in the class. The father decided to take both children swimming himself.

Initially thinking Rocco had decided to hide, Mr Wright searched for him but tragically found his son had drowned.

Mr Wright said: "It was at this point I decided I would forget the lesson and just swim with both my children only to realise I couldn't see Rocco.

"I checked round the poolside thinking he would be hiding, but devastatingly he wasn't.

"I found him at the far end of pool face down at the bottom. I dived in and got him out onto the poolside and screamed for help."

Mr Wright said that, contrary to some statements, it was he who pulled his son from the water, and a lifeguard did not "rescue" him.

The family say a lifeguard came over and offered help after Mr Wright took Rocco to the poolside and raised the alarm.

He said: "By making this statement we're not trying to place blame, we just want the facts to be reported accurately."

The family said this "misreporting" had "caused further grief and deep upset".

Some users on social media have sent messages blaming them for what happened.

The family issued the statement through their lawyers, clarifying that the children had not been left unattended in the pool.

In a statement, David Lloyd said: "All of our team at the club are deeply shocked and our thoughts are very much with the boy's family at this sad time.

"We are working closely with the relevant local authorities and have launched a full investigation into this tragic incident."

Detective Inspector James Entwistle, of West Yorkshire Police, said on Saturday: "This appears to be a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the boy's family at this extremely difficult time.

"While there is nothing to suggest that the death was suspicious, we do have a duty to investigate the circumstances of what has happened".