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Holiday-makers at Center Parcs complained about not being allowed into the water pools and one even demanded a refund, as staff and other people tried to resuscitate a boy who later died.

That was the sickening claim made by one of those trying to help the boy - a prison officer who leapt into action when he realised the boy wasn't breathing at the Longleat resort in Wiltshire.

The youngster, who has not been named, tragically died after falling ill while playing at one of the sub-tropical indoor pools alongside three other children last Saturday, Mirror Online reports.

And while some guests have slammed Center Parcs for the way they think the tragedy was handled, one of those who actually tried to save the boy's life has said the response from staff was faultless during the incident.

The dad, who declined to be named, has worked as a prison officer for 30 years and is first-aid trained. He leapt into action when he saw and heard the boy's mum screaming for help, and undertook CPR which continued with a defibrillator.

But while the man praised staff at the Longleat resort, he slammed his fellow guests, the Mail Online reports, branding their behaviour 'appalling'.

“It was the adult guests that were at fault," he said.

"Their behaviour was appalling.

“While I was giving CPR a woman came up to me and asked if she could go into the pool. And then she started asking staff if she could get a refund because she couldn’t use the slides.”

The quick thinking dad explained how some guests couldn't stop thinking about the leisure facilities.

"I heard a woman say: 'Why can't I go in the rapids? I've spent a bloody fortune on this place!!'" he added.

"This was in front of the family and staff were asking them not to go near but they ignored them."

The man went on to describe the horrifying scene as the boy lost his hold on life.

"The defibrillator was already on scene and was used on the poor little lad. We tried to keep the poor lad alive it was an awful time," he continued.

"The area around the pool was full of people so was very difficult to stop the flow of people initially.

"I shouted for a screen to be brought up which it was after about 10 mins.

'Terribly traumatic event'

"I cannot praise the staff enough for their actions in trying to keep him alive.

"They were excellent, bearing in mind a lot of them were youngsters and was a terribly traumatic event and they were on scene within seconds."

An air ambulance was also sent to the resort, but sadly the child, whose age is unknown, died.

In a statement, Center Parcs said it was 'deeply saddened' by the death of the young boy last Saturday.

The Nottinghamshire-based company said: "Our team responded professionally and appropriately in very challenging circumstances.

"They provided CPR, with the assistance of medically trained members of the public, until paramedics arrived and screened the area from view while the boy was being treated.

"At the family’s request, we did not share any further information on the boy’s condition until the family were comfortable with us doing so.

"We have remained in regular contact with the family throughout the week and they have passed on their gratitude to the team for the way they responded and the immediate medical care they provided.

"Our thoughts remain with the family and we would reiterate that they have asked for complete privacy at this very upsetting time."

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