Two-year-old Scot drowned in pool in Spain

Costa del Sol: Theo Lamb was discovered by his father floating in the swimming pool. Picture: PA

Theo Lamb, two, was discovered by his father floating in the water at the property in Mijas Costa, Costa del Sol, on Monday.

Local reports said that his  parents, Duncan Lamb and Alison Pallett, from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, had been living in the area.

Mr Lamb discovered the boy floating in the pool as he went to search for him after he went missing from his family home and a local gardener rang the police.

The boy’s mother and the couple’s landlord were alerted by the father’s cries for help as he pulled his son out of the water and tried to revive him.

Paramedics then took over when they arrived less than ten minutes later and spent around 40 minutes trying to resuscitate the boy, before realising there was nothing they could do to save him.

Police are working on the theory that the youngster fell into the pool after climbing up some stairs separating his home from the neighbour’s and clambering on to the roof of a garage thought to be above the water.

The Foreign Office confirmed that the youngster was a British national.

Theo was discovered around 10:45am on Monday in an area of Mijas Costa known as El Coto.

His family rented the top part of a villa owned by their landlord, Fernando Aguilar.

Mr Aguilar, whose eight-year-son used to play with Theo, told a local newspaper: “His dad saw something floating in the neighbour’s pool by chance as he went up the stairs separating the two properties and realised it was  his son.

“We don’t know how long the boy had been in the water. He was always playing in the garden, but no-one thought something terrible like this would happen.

“My son, who plays with him every afternoon, came to tell me his dad had jumped on to the neighbouring property.

“I keep a set of keys and went to open it up, but sadly there was nothing anyone could do.”

Neighbour Debora Vacaro added: “The family wasn’t very well known in the area and kept themselves to themselves, but we always saw them with their child.

“This sort of thing really affects you.”

Paramedics reportedly found his dad soaking wet and hugging his son when they arrived on the scene.

Mr Lamb was treated for a leg injury sustained as he jumped from a 4ft wall dividing the two properties to try to rescue his son.

Theo’s body was taken from the scene at around 2pm on Monday after an investigating judge co-ordinating an inquiry into the tragedy allowed undertakers to remove it.

A Civil Guard source said: “Everything is pointing towards this being the result of a tragic accident. The local police had been alerted to the fact he was missing moments before he was found.”

The El Coto residential area is just one kilometre from Fuengirola and has a supermarket, chemist and three restaurants. Villas and apartments in the area are popular with holidaymakers.

The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are aware of the death of a British national on 18 August in Costa del Sol.

“We stand ready to provide consular assistance to the family at this sad time.”