Police have described the death of a four-year-old boy as "unexplained" after he was found in a swimming pool at a holiday park and rushed to hospital.

The child was reported missing at Knapp House Activity Centre near Bideford, Devon, just before 3pm on Monday.

A search aided by a police helicopter followed before he was located in the pool on the site and taken to North Devon District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said his death is currently being treated as unexplained but the youngster, from Weymouth, is reported to have drowned.

The incident happened during a week-long summer holiday camp organised by Devon Narcotics Anonymous, a group that supports its members to stop using drugs and alcohol.


The group described use of the swimming pool as "supervised" by the activity centre's "trained lifeguards" but Knapp House claimed that the group had "self-supervised" use of the pool.

In a statement, Devon Narcotics Anonymous Summer Holiday Campout Committee said the group had "enjoyed a wonderful week of sharing lives of complete freedom from drug and alcohol use".

It added: "One of the activities we organise with Knapp House is the supervised use of their swimming pool with their trained lifeguards.

"Very tragically, something has gone horrifically wrong, and a young child of one of our members drowned in the pool.

"We are not aware of the exact details of how this happened, and the police are obviously investigating.

"As a committee... we are devastated that a truly wonderful week has ended so tragically."

Ashley and Stuart Clements, directors of Knapp House Activity Centre, insisted that the NA group had "self-supervised" use of the pool.

"It is with great sadness that we can confirm that a four-year-old boy has drowned in the swimming pool at our activity centre during an event organised by Narcotics Anonymous," they said.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the young boy's family and friends.

"The group had the use of the pool on a self-supervised basis for recreational use - it was not part of the planned activity program that we provide.

"The event has always been a great success but we are all absolutely devastated that this year it has ended in such tragic circumstances."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101.