Police shore up team in hotel pool death probe

A police investigation into a fatal drowning of a young child in a hotel pool in Paphos has been enhanced, with more agencies involved as they question everyone to figure out what went wrong.

(Click here for an update to the story)

According to CID Paphos director Michalis Nicolaou, any and all law enforcement personnel that could support the probe into the death of 3-year-old Christina Protopapa, have been invited to join an enhanced team, with investigators taking statements from the drowning victim’s parents, doctors, emergency medics, two lifeguards on duty, as well as hotel staff and guests.

Nicolaou, who also spoke in his capacity as spokesperson for Paphos Police administration, said officers from the district’s Criminal Investigation Department were called to pitch in, adding the investigation was nearing completion and it would be shared before the week is out with the state’s prosecutorial unit at the Legal Department. 

Christina, who had checked in at a Chloraka hotel with her parents and sibling on Sunday, died hours later after sinking to the bottom of a large swimming pool that was adjacent to a kid-friendly pool.

Media reports said the little girl ended up in the bottom of a large swimming pool minutes after telling mom and dad nearby that she was going to a play in the adjacent kid-friendly pool.

Video footage from the scene at the time of the incident has been obtained by police but no official report has been made in connection with the case.

A port mortem has confirmed that the cause of death was drowning in water, while it was noted that Christina showed no signs of external injurers or other medical issues.

Following initial uncertainty over whether both lifeguards were in fact on site during the incident, media outlets confirmed with police that both rescuers were present when Christina drowned.

Police say they are investigating a drowning incident.