MORE THAN 10 lifeguards were on duty in the area where a four-year-old boy died while swimming at the National Aquatic Centre, the chief executive of the National Sports Campus Development Authority said last night.
Barry O’Brien said “the full complement of lifeguards” was in attendance at the Aquazone area of the centre, in Abbotstown, Co Dublin, on Sunday when the tragedy occurred.
Mr O’Brien confirmed an investigation into the death of Loghan Joyce, from Ashbourne, Co Meath, was being carried out by the authority, which runs the centre, as well as by gardaí.
The boy was visiting the centre with his father and two sisters. He was swimming in the Aquazone section of the centre at about 6.30pm when the incident happened.
He was attended to at the scene by gardaí and the emergency services before being transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, where he was later pronounced dead.
A postmortem is due to be carried out and an inquest into his death will be held.
In a statement, the centre said the Aquazone section – which features children’s play areas, a lazy river that runs at 2mph, a wave pool and slides – will remain closed until further notice.
Mr O’Brien conveyed his deepest sympathies to the family of Loghan.
“Gardaí are conducting an investigation into the incident with which we are co-operating fully,” he said.
The international competition pool and the diving pool at the centre are to remain open while investigations continue.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses who were in or around the pool at the time of the incident to contact them at Blanchardstown Garda station on 01- 6667000.
The National Aquatic Centre, which has a 10-lane 50m by 25m international-standard swimming pool and seating for 2,500 spectators, opened in March 2003. Last year it attracted more than 800,000 visitors.