AN adventurous four-year-old from Great Sankey died after drowning on a family holiday, an inquest has found.
Isaac Webster was on a holiday in Egypt with his parents, Andy and Kelly, and his brother Leo, when he was found unresponsive in a hotel adult's swimming pool in April, 2017.
During a hearing at Warrington Coroner's Court on Friday, Isaac's mum, Kelly Havey, recalled the heartbreaking incident.
She said: "Isaac was a very adventurous little boy.
"He was always in the accident book at nursery.
"He was very hyperactive and would never keep still.
"He was always on the go, playing, and out on his bike and scooter."
On April 18, 2017, the family went on holiday to Egypt with Thomas Cook, staying in the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel.
There was a children's pool and an adult pool but the barrier separating the two did not go all the way around.
On the second day of the holiday, Isaac was playing in the children's pool.
The court heard how Kelly turned around to get some suncream, turned back, and could not see her son.
She approached a lifeguard for help, but stressed that she had not seen any lifeguards on duty before.
Kelly said: "He got in the children's pool with me and walked around.
"He didn't even ask what Isaac looked like.
"As soon as I got out of the children's pool, that's when I saw Isaac."
He was found unresponsive in the adult pool.
Staff started CPR and an ambulance was called which took 15-20 minutes to arrive.
At the Nile Hospital, the family were visited by the British Embassy as well as Egyptian Police, who told Kelly to make a statement.
Despite not understanding what she was signing, she said: "I had to do it there and then, I didn't have a choice."
Isaac started to show signs of improvement but was still in a serious condition on a ventilator with concerns about his brain activity.
The following day, April 20, Isaac started convulsing and his condition deteriorated.
Kelly remembered: "It was the evening before he passed away.
"He had a severe chest infection and they couldn't control his temperature."
Isaac died at 11am the following morning.
Kelly added: "The doctors did not make it clear what was the cause of death."
Thomas Cook said they did not own or control the hotel.
There was also no CCTV of the incident and no record of any similar incidents in the past.
The staff said they tried to comfort the family in the hospital as best they could.
Alan Moore, senior coroner for Cheshire, described Isaac as a 'fit, healthy and very active four-year-old'.
Regarding the incident, he added: "It's likely he'd made his way between the two pools through the gap in the barrier."
The inquest concluded that Isaac died from respiratory failure due to drowning.
Contributing to this was an infection in his lungs and airways.
Following Isaac's death in 2017, a fundraising page was set up.
It raised £11,425 to help cover funeral costs and provide some financial support for his family's monthly household bills.
In a statement released following the inquest, Isaac's family said: "We as a family wish to pay tribute to Isaac: a loved son, grandson, great grandson, nephew, cousin and friend to all who knew him.
"Isaac was truly beautiful. He was gentle, kind and loving.
"He had a generous spirit, was funny and exuded all of the finest qualities of a happy and loved child.
"Though his life was cruelly short, he filled so much into it and those who are fortunate to have known him will remember him as a shining and effervescent small boy who drew people close.
"Whilst time without him has cruelly and relentlessly passed, our happy memories, and the pain that brings, have not diminished.
"Those cherished memories burn bright and because of the love we have for him, will never dim.
"For the sake of our family, we have had to pick up the fractured pieces of a life without Isaac, but he is held with us, still within the heart of our family.
"We wish to thank again the people, friends and strangers alike who pulled together in our time our time of need.
"People who spontaneously and generously fundraised so that we were able to give our son a most fitting tribute.
"The burden of coping with his devastating loss was eased by the love and support of others and was a measure of how much Isaac was loved.
"We would like to thank Cheshire Police for their support, Her Majesties Coroner for his work and Slater Gordon for their expertise in guidance through the legal process.
"Finally, we ask as a family that we are given space and privacy to grieve and reflect upon today's hearing.
"The indescribable pain – for there are no words, for the loss of Isaac have once again been brought to the fore."
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