Two drownings in Catalonia: child in hotel pool, elderly man on beach

A six-year-old Belgian boy drowned in a hotel pool in Calella (Barcelona) on Sunday afternoon, while a 76-year-old French man died on a beach in Castelló d'Empúries (Girona). The incidents bring the total number of drowning deaths in Catalan pools to seven and on beaches to 12 since the bathing season began on 15 June Source: El Mundo.

The Calella incident

The boy was found floating in the pool at around 17:55. According to witnesses cited by ABC, there was no lifeguard on duty and the pool reaches five meters depth. The mother suffered an anxiety attack and was attended by psychologists Source: ABC. Four ambulances and four Mossos d'Esquadra patrols responded Source: El Mundo.

The Castelló d'Empúries incident

About 40 minutes later, a 76-year-old French man fainted while swimming at Empuriabrava beach, where lifeguards were present and a yellow flag was flying Source: La Vanguardia. Rescuers performed CPR but could not revive him Source: El Mundo. Three ambulances and a medical helicopter were dispatched Source: La Vanguardia.

Rising toll

The death of the boy is the seventh pool drowning this season, already surpassing last year's total of four Source: ABC. Beach drownings have reached 12 . A 20 people have been injured in pool incidents, most of them minors . The events mark what El Mundo calls a 'black start to summer' in Catalonia.