Three-year-old Eleri Ellesmere was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a villa in Mallorca before being rushed to hospital where she tragically died
A three-year-old girl tragically died after she was pulled from a swimming pool on a family holiday to Mallorca, an inquest heard today.
Eleri Ellesmere was away with parents Joe and Cerys when the “tragic accident” unfolded on the evening of June 24. The family were staying at Villa Francisca, a rural home near Pollenca, during what “should have been an idyllic family holiday,” they said.
Eleri was pulled from the pool and family members performed CPR before she was taken to Son Espases Hospital in the capital city of Palma, an inquest opening heard.
Despite the best efforts of medics, who the family say “battled tirelessly” to bring Eleri back, she was pronounced dead the following day, Gwent Coroner’s Court was told.
Eleri’s provisional cause of death was given as 1a mechanical asphyxiation by drowning, respiratory failure. Coroner Rose Farmer opened and adjourned the hearing to April 13, 2027.
The toddler, of New Tredegar, Gwent, was described as a “deeply loved” and “beautiful” little girl whose death left the family facing their “most devastating chapter,” the inquest heard.
Eleri’s heartbroken mum Cerys said: “What should have been an idyllic family holiday has turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. A nightmare we cannot wake up from.
“Our precious little Eleri Fairy was involved in an accident during the holiday.
“Unfortunately, despite unbelievable effort and attempts to heal our little girl made by us and the Palma health services, we were left with her on life sustaining support.
“Me and Joe were with her every single second and our little girl showed incomprehensible strength to try and stay with us. This was not enough.”
The family from Newport, South Wales, were devastated when Eleri’s heart stopped beating at the Spanish hospital. Cerys said: “At 13:40 CEST on 25/06/2026 our fairy’s heart stopped for the very last time.
“We are broken, we have no words. It is like the world has stopped and we have no breath. We want to thank every single member of the ambulance and hospital that battled tirelessly to try and bring our daughter back to us.
“Our only focus now is bringing our little girl back to the UK to be reunite her with her family.” A fundraising page was launched to support the family with funeral costs.
It said: “As a family, we are coming together to raise funds for our cherished family members, the heartbroken parents of their beautiful daughter, Eleri Ellesmere.
“Eleri was deeply loved, and her loss has left an unimaginable emptiness in all of our lives.
“No family should ever have to endure such pain, and yet we are now facing the most devastating chapter a mother, father and surrounding family can experience. We want to surround them with love, support, and care in every way possible.
“The funds raised will help ensure that beautiful Eleri is given the funeral she truly deserves- a farewell filled with dignity, love, and respect.
“They will also allow her parents the time and space to grieve without the added weight of financial worry, so they can focus on healing and leaning on one another during this heartbreaking time.
“Every donation, no matter how small, will help ease some of the burden they are carrying.
“Thank you for standing with our family during this time of unimaginable loss.”
