THE family of a four-year-old Bishop Auckland girl who died after being rescued from a swimming pool while on holiday in Egypt hope an inquest which started today will provide them with answers regarding her death.
Indianna Rose Maddison got into difficulty in the pool of the hotel in Hurghada, where she and parents Kelly and Tommy and her eight siblings were staying for a festive break in 2017.
Six days into the holiday, on December 21, she was involved in an incident in the swimming pool at the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Hotel, which was part of a package holiday booked through TUI.
Read more: Bishop Auckland family in 'world of pain' over girl's death after Egypt pool accident
She was taken by ambulance to an Egyptian hospital.
On Christmas Eve, she was flown home to the UK, arriving at a hospital in Newcastle on Christmas Day morning.
She died on Boxing Day, December 26, 2017, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
It’s been three years but the pain is still so raw.
While nothing will ever make up for our loss, and the inquest will be tough as we will have to relive everything we went through, we hope that it will provide us with answers.
Tommy, 48, said: “We were always so protective over Indianna. It was devastating when we found out there was nothing we could do to save her.
“It’s still so difficult to accept that our little girl’s no longer here. She always had a smile on her face and loved spending time with her brothers and sisters, who are also struggling to come to terms with losing her. It’s been three years but the pain is still so raw.
“While nothing will ever make up for our loss, and the inquest will be tough as we will have to relive everything we went through, we hope that it will provide us with answers.”
Following Indianna’s death, Mr and Mrs Maddison instructed international serious injury experts at Irwin Mitchell to support them and their family through the inquest process.
Daniel Matchett, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Tommy and Kelly, said: “Losing Indianna has left a huge hole in the lives of her loved ones, in particular Tommy and Kelly who are still understandably struggling to come to terms with the tragic death of their beloved daughter.
“Their grief has been made more difficult by not knowing the full reasons as to why their little girl was taken from them so soon.
“We’re continuing to support Indianna’s loved ones and are determined to provide them with the answers they deserve.
“Tommy and Kelly have a number of concerns relating to safety management around the pool at the time of Indianna’s accident, as well as the medical care with which she was provided prior to the arrival of paramedics.
“We will support Indianna’s loved ones in the inquest process to ensure that these concerns are properly investigated, particularly so that lessons can be learned in the event that any issues are identified.”
The inquest started at the Newcastle Coroner’s Court this morning and is listed for five days.
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