26.01.2022

Youngster Died After Getting Into Difficulty During Festive Break With Family

The devastated parents of a four-year-old girl who had to be rescued from a swimming pool while on holiday in Egypt have spoken out after an inquest into her death concluded.

Indianna Maddison, from Bishop Auckland, was staying at the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Hotel in Hurghada when she got into difficulty in the pool.  The hotel was part of a package holiday booked through TUI.  A fellow holidaymaker jumped into the pool to rescue Indianna and started CPR at the poolside.  Indianna was subsequently taken to hospital by ambulance.

Three days later – on Christmas Eve 2017 – Indianna was flown back to a hospital in the UK, arriving on Christmas Day morning. She died on Boxing Day, five days after being pulled from the water.

Following her death, Indianna’s mum Kelly, 42, and dad, Tommy, 48, instructed international serious injury experts at Irwin Mitchell to help investigate what happened to Indianna on her holiday and support them through the inquest process.

The couple have now spoken out after an inquest into their daughter’s death at Newcastle Coroners’ Court concluded a narrative verdict, stating that Indianna died “due to the effects of near drowning in Egypt to which deficiencies of local emergency care and hospital care contributed.”

The Coroner also noted she wishes to consider further evidence from TUI as to whether warnings should be issued to those to whom they are selling packages about the quality of medical care available in the event of a situation arising.

Expert Opinion

“This is an absolutely tragic case in which a young girl has lost her life and a family has suffered the devastating loss of their loved one.

Understandably the last few years and trying to come to terms with Indianna’s death and the circumstances surrounding it has been incredibly difficult for her family, in particular Tommy and Kelly.

While the inquest has been tough they were determined to honour Indianna’s memory. While nothing can make up for their loss we’re pleased that we have at least been able to provide the family with the answers they deserve regarding Indianna’s death.

We’ll continue to support the family at this distressing time.”
Daniel Matchett - Associate Solicitor

Kelly, Tommy, Indianna and her eight siblings travelled to Hurghada in December 2017.  On 21 December, six days into their festive break, an incident occurred in the hotel swimming pool. She was found unconscious in the pool and was retrieved by hotel guests.

Indianna was taken to hospital in Egypt, before being flown home to the UK late on Christmas Eve 2018 with Kelly.  The rest of the family were to follow the next day.

Indianna and Kelly were transported by ambulance from the airport to a hospital in Newcastle during Christmas Day morning.

Sadly, Indianna was found to have sustained serious brain damage.  She suffered a cardiac arrest, but was kept alive until Tommy got back to the UK.  She passed away on Boxing Day, 26 December 2017.

Tommy and Kelly said: “We miss our beloved Indianna every single day.  She was our happy little girl and we always protected her in any way we could, so to lose her how we did was absolutely devastating and something we’ll never get over.

“To know that we’ll never see her grow up alongside her brothers and sisters, or mark milestones like starting school, getting married and having her own children, is so difficult to accept.

“It’s now four years since it happened, but the pain never goes away.  Going through everything again at the inquest has been hard, but we’re grateful to have answers.”

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