The wife of drowned British Pastor, who drowned in a swimming pool alongside their son and daughter has spoken of her heartbreak and claimed all three of them knew how to swim, the UK Evening Standard reports.
According to the report, the wife of the British pastor, Mrs Olubunmi Diya, whose husband Gabriel and children Comfort and Praise-Emmanuel died in the Costa del Sol, spoke out after suggestions none of them was able to swim.
She told Sky the trio could and claimed she believed there could have been a problem with the pool which may have caused them issues in doing so – though resort owners have denied this previously.
Her comments came after another daughter, who was not harmed, reportedly told Spanish police none of the three was able to swim.
The trio died in a pool at the Club La Costa World resort.
However, Mrs Diya claimed that was not the case and said the police were not told that.
In the statement to Sky, Mrs Diya added: “Our family are utterly heartbroken by the events last Tuesday, but we are comforted and strengthened by our strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“We are deeply shocked, saddened and struggling to come to terms with their passing.”
It had previously been suggested Comfort struggled in the water before her brother and father jumped in, in a failed attempt to rescue her, on Christmas Eve.
Local reports said Spanish police were investigating the pool pump for a possible failure, with a report in Malaga’s Diario Sur newspaper saying Comfort’s swimming cap was found in the pool’s suction system.
But enquiries have found “no concerns relating to the pool in question” and the incident appears to be a “tragic accident”, according to hotel operator CLC World Resorts and Hotels, which runs the Club La Costa World in Fuengirola.
In a statement, the firm said: “The Guardia Civil have carried out a full investigation which found no concerns relating to the pool in question or procedures in place, which leaves us to believe this was a tragic accident which has left everyone surrounding the incident in shock.”
Reports later carried a statement which said investigations found there as “no malfunction”, and expressed further condolences to the family.
Mr Diya’s Facebook account lists him as a pastor at Open Heavens London, a Christian religious group with origins in Nigeria, based in Charlton, south-east London.
It is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which posted on Facebook: “With heavy hearts, we extend our condolences to the family, parish, friends and associates of Area Pastor Gabriel Diya who sadly passed away, along with two of his children… in a tragic incident while on a family holiday in Spain.
“At this very difficult time, our prayers are for Pastor Gabriel Diya’s family, the parishes that were under his supervision, friends, associates, members of RCCG and the general public.”
A neighbour of the family told the PA news agency she was “really devastated” to learn of the death,
She described the Diyas as “very religious, very friendly, very humble”.
Speaking outside her home in Charlton, south-east London, Lara Akins, 59, added: “I still can’t comprehend it, it’s still shocking.
“They are so nice, that is why everybody is shocked… we are very friendly with each other.”