Police are investigating the death of a four-year-old boy believed to have drowned at the end of a week-long family holiday organised by Narcotics Anonymous. Officers and paramedics were called to Knapp House activity centre in north Devon on bank holiday Monday after the child was reported missing.

The police helicopter was involved in the search and the boy was discovered in a swimming pool at the centre. He was taken to North Devon district hospital in Barnstaple but could not be saved. Devon and Cornwall police said they were treating the death as unexplained. A force spokeswoman said: “Police were notified around 2.55pm yesterday [Monday 28 August], to reports of a missing four-year-old boy at Knapp House activity centre in Northam, Bideford. “Following an extensive search assisted by the police helicopter, the child was located in a swimming pool at the site and taken to North Devon district hospital where he was pronounced deceased. “The boy’s next of kin have been informed and enquiries continue. Officers are investigating the circumstances and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.”

A spokesperson for Devon Narcotics Anonymous Campout Committee said something had gone “horrifically wrong”. The spokesperson said: “For the sixth year running, we have organised a week-long summer holiday campout for members of Narcotics Anonymous and their families at Knapp House and we all enjoyed a wonderful week of sharing lives of complete freedom from drug and alcohol use. (theguardian)…[+]