Shropshire girl, 2, dies in Spanish pool tragedy

A two-year-old girl from Shropshire has died after falling into a swimming pool while on holiday with her family in Spain.

Isabella May Crump was found in the pool at a villa in San Miguel de Salinas, near Torrevieja, Alicante, on Wednesday afternoon – the day before her family were due to fly back to their home near Ludlow.

Despite frantic efforts by her family and paramedics to revive her at the scene nothing could be done to save her.

Devastated relatives said today: "The brightest light in our lives has been switched off."

The toddler was on holiday with mother Deborah Ridgway, 26, her partner Patrick Crump, 37, and her four-year-old brother. They were staying at a villa owned by Isabella's grandparents.

A investigation has begun but Spanish police have said everything about the incident pointed towards a 'tragic accident'.

Speaking from Spain today, Isabella's grandfather, who did not want to be named, said: "We are all totally devastated. The brightest light in our lives has been switched off.

"We need time as a family unit to console each other and to make arrangements to bring our little one back to the UK. We are liaising with the British Consular in sorting out all the arrangements. We would ask people to leave us alone to do this.

"This has just been the most tragic of circumstances and we need time to grieve."

He said the family had spent time by the pool on Wednesday afternoon before tragedy struck.

He said: "Towards the end of the afternoon, all of the family had all gone back inside. At some point, Izzy has gone back outside unknown to everybody.

"She was only out of sight for a matter of moments.

"She was found in the pool and couldn't be revived. The entire family are totally heartbroken."

By Peter Kitchen