Chloe Johnson death: Family of five-year-old British girl who died in a pool at in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh resort 'angry' that more wasn't done to save her

Chloe was from Forest Hill, south London

James Legge,Jamie Lewis
Sunday 19 May 2013 09:18 BST
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The Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh
The Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh (GETTY)

The family of a five-year-old British girl who died in a swimming pool in Egypt say they are "angry" that more was not done to save her.

Chloe Johnson, from Forest Hill in south east London, died in a waterpark at the Coral Sea Waterworld Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday.

Speaking to Sky News, her grandmother April Johnson claimed that her son and two holidaymakers had tried to resuscitate her.

She said lifeguards had not been on hand and also claimed that an ambulance had taken four hours to arrive.

Asked how the family was feeling, she said: "Angry, angry, angry and so hurt."

"We have all got knives in our hearts to think that if she had been seen, would she still be with us?," she said.

"Where were the lifeguards? Even if they didn't see her when she was pulled out of the pool, why did they not come forward and start resuscitation? Why was it left to other people?

"I can't get my head around that one. I need to know why to put Chloe at rest and try to help my son as best I can."

A spokeswoman for travel company First Choice said: "First Choice can sadly confirm that a child has died while staying at the Coral Sea Waterworld hotel in Egypt. The incident occurred in a pool in the hotel's waterpark.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this extremely difficult time. The British Consulate were immediately informed and they are now working with our dedicated resort team in Egypt to offer every assistance possible to the family in resort.

"In partnership with the hotelier, our resort team are working to understand how the incident occurred, and we will be carrying out a full and thorough investigation."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Sharm el-Sheikh on 17 May. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

According to its website, the Coral Sea Waterworld Hotel is "a magnificent resort leaving nothing to be desired" and is "set amid colourful landscape gardens and the resort's two pools".

The hotel is described as a "perfect setting for complete relaxation", as well as "an ideal venue for many exciting activities".

Sharm el-Sheikh is an increasingly popular holiday destination, overlooking the Red Sea and set on white-sand beaches.

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