Two three-year-old children have died in Mallorca within days of each other after being pulled from swimming pools at holiday properties, prompting renewed warnings about pool safety.
The two cases
A British girl was found in the pool of a rural villa in the Llenaire area, near Port de Pollença, where she was staying with her family. Her parents pulled her out and started CPR, which was continued by local police, a 061 ambulance crew and the Guardia Civil. Her heartbeat was restored and she was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but she died the following day.
Days earlier, a Danish boy of the same age had died after falling into the pool of a rental property in Santa Margalida. A relative pulled him out and gave CPR until emergency services arrived, and he was airlifted to Son Espases hospital, but could not be saved.
The Guardia Civil has opened investigations into both deaths, as is routine.
Why villas carry a risk
Many holiday villas in Mallorca have private pools without fences, alarms or covers. Families arriving at an unfamiliar property, often tired after travelling and busy unpacking, can lose sight of a small child for just a moment — and drowning can happen in less than a minute, often silently.
Before you book
- Ask whether the pool is fenced or has a safety cover or alarm.
- If not, consider bringing a portable pool alarm or choosing a property with a fenced pool.
When you arrive
- Check the layout: how easy is it for a child to reach the pool from the house?
- Keep doors leading to the pool area locked or blocked.
- Remove toys from around the pool so children are not tempted.
Every day
- Agree that one adult is always the “water watcher”, without phones or distractions, and hand over the role explicitly.
- Keep young children within arm’s reach whenever they are near water.
- Remember that inflatables are not safety devices.
- Learn basic CPR before the holiday.
In an emergency, call 112. Operators speak English.
