The grieving grandfather of Londonderry five-year-old Colum Canning, who drowned while on holiday close to Disneyland Paris, has spoken out about the family’s tragic loss.

Tony Canning’s grandson, Colum, died in a hotel pool during a family Christmas holiday to France. He revealed that the family are still struggling to come to terms with the loss and have demanded to know why there were no lifeguards on duty.

“On the day of the accident my daughter had turned around to fetch a camera and when she turned back Colum was missing,” said the Derry grandfather.

“She knew he loved the water — and that he had his trunks on under his clothes. He had gone, undressed, folded his clothes and sat them on a bench and gone into the pool.

“Yet in this time no-one saw him. In fact when my daughter asked a towel attendant at the pool if he had seen a little boy she was told there was no-one in the pool. Colum was found a short time later.”

The parents, Karen Canning and David Bradley, also claim the pool at the Explorers Hotel near Disneyland Paris has no warning system in place to alert people to potential hazards.

Tony said: “There is a pirate ship with a large bucket which fills with water before tipping over. The weight of the water would be enough to push someone — who was unaware of the risk — under the water.

“Even at Lisnagelvin swimming pool here in Derry they sound a warning before the wave machine is switched on so people are aware of a potential risk.

“It is madness that this didn’t happen at Explorers.”

At only five, Colum was a proficient swimmer and had taken lessons since he was a baby.

“It’s important people know that Colum did not fall into the pool,” said his grandfather.

“He was a competent swimmer — well able to manage out of his depth.

“I’ve taken him swimming, at least once a week, since he was two and while he loved the water he was never foolhardy around it. He knew the risks.”

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: “Our deepest sympathies continue to be with the Canning family at this difficult time and we will continue to provide support to them.

“Following the immediate investigation and reopening of the pool by the local authorities, we have instigated an independent investigation into this tragic accident, which is currently ongoing.”

Under the FAQ section of the Explorers Hotel website it states that the pool is not manned by lifeguards and that parents must supervise children at all the times.