- Family spokesperson Jamila Ibrahim said the body of their daughter was found floating in the adult's swimming pool hours later.
- Ummulkheir was buried on Monday at the Memon cemetery, Kikowani area in Mvita subcounty.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
A family in Mombasa is mourning a girl who lost her life while swimming on Sunday.
Ummulkheir Yusuf, 5, left home in the company of her sisters to go swimming.
Family spokesperson Jamila Ibrahim said the body of their daughter was found floating in the adult's swimming pool hours later.
“Our daughter left home around 4 pm with her sisters. They said they were going swimming at Buxton Point apartments. Upon arrival at the gate, they paid Sh400 and went to the children's pool, but hours later, someone called us and said that she was being rushed to a hospital,” she said.
The family was informed by a witness that Ummulkheir left the children's pool and walked to the adults’ pool, where she slipped into the deeper section and drowned unnoticed.
“We were told that our daughter was being rushed to Mombasa Hospital, but on our arrival, we had lost her. We are still in denial as a family,” Ibrahim said.
“If the swimming pool zone had a lifeguard or a security guard, maybe our daughter would still be alive.”
A postmortem conducted on Monday at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital revealed that the girl died from drowning and did not exhibit any physical harm.
Ummulkheir was buried on Monday at the Memon cemetery, Kikowani area in Mvita subcounty.
“We should have regulations on operating a swimming pool. If we had a lifeguard and security at Buxton, we could not have lost our daughter. People should not be allowed to run public pools without following all the required obligations,” Ibrahim said.
Mombasa county assembly speaker Aharub Khatri visited the family to condole with them. He said inspection will be done on all public swimming pools within the county to ensure regulations are implemented.
“As the Mombasa county assembly, we will not take this matter lightly. We will conduct inspections to assess all public swimming pools. Those in charge need to ensure the safety of those who have gone swimming,” Khatri said.
Muslims for Human Rights Organisation called upon the Mombasa County government to enforce safety regulations for all public swimming pools.
Muhuri said all swimming pools should have lifeguards and provide proper safety equipment for children and adults.
Parents have also been called upon to closely monitor their children whenever they are near water bodies, especially during the April school holidays.