For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Breaking News email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
A two-year-old girl’s father and grandfather have drowned after jumping into a hotel swimming pool in an attempt to save her.
Dharmvir Singh, 38, and Gurjinder Singh, 65, died at the seaside resort Surfers Paradise in eastern Australia’s Gold Coast on Sunday evening.
The pair from Clyde North in Victoria were believed to be father and grandfather to the toddler, who lost her footing while playing by the side of the pool at a hotel on Orchid Avenue and fell into a deeper part of the water.
The duo, who were thought to be on holiday, immediately jumped in to rescue the young child but then got into difficulty themselves.
Fellow holidaymakers pulled the family from the water and performed CPR on the two men before paramedics arrived
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/04/02/11/australia%20drowning%202.JPG?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/04/02/11/australia%20drowning%202.JPG?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/04/02/11/australia%20drowning%202.JPG" data-gallery-length="3" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" pinger-seen="true">
Fellow holidaymakers pulled the family from the water and performed CPR on the two men before paramedics arrived
(Jason Wood MP)
RECOMMENDED
Mystery as skull of toddler who vanished 8 months ago found near grandparents’ home
Undo
10-year-old girl dies, family falls ill after eating birthday cake in India’s Punjab
Undo
New Skin Discovery
Plastic Surgeon Reveals The 1 Thing Every Woman Should Be Using Instead Of MoisturiserNew Skin Discovery| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Affordable Funerals
The Surprising Truth About Cremations and Funerals In The UKAffordable Funerals| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
Fellow tourists pulled the family from the water and performed CPR on the two men before paramedics arrived just before 7pm and continued attempts at reviving them.
However, despite their best efforts, Dharmvir and Gurjinder were both pronounced dead at the scene after suffering cardiac arrest.
MP Jason Wood, who identified the pair, said: “My thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family during this awful time.”
Promoted stories
British Investing
How To Invest In Whisky. Own A Barrel Of WhiskyBritish Investing Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
He added the toddler did not suffer any physical injuries.
Senior operations supervisor Mitch Ware from Queensland Ambulance Service said a woman who knew the family was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital “in an emotional state” but stable condition.
He described the scene as “extremely emotional”, adding: “Anyone could understand that, not just to lose one family member but to lose two family members.”
An aerial view of the Surfers Paradise skyline in Queensland, Australia
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Mr Ware went on to issue a warning to the community to be careful around water.
He said: “It’s the start of the school holidays – it’s a busy period for the ambulance service, especially in and around Surfers Paradise. We do see increases in post submersion cases in and around the Easter long weekend and especially around the school holidays.
“So I will just reiterate to the community to exercise due care – especially if you’re not a strong swimmer and especially if there’s young children around – that you are really careful, because we know that children, and even adults, can drown within a couple of seconds if they find themselves in those sort of situations.”
Extending his condolences on behalf of the Queensland Ambulance Service, he said: “These incidents can have long-lasting effects on not just the family members involved but also the people who were at the scene and also the first responders.”
He added that it is unclear whether there were safety flotation devices by the pool at the time, and confirmed Queensland Police Service is investigating the incident.
More about father grandfather Toddler Gold Coast Australia Cardiac arrest Pool drowning
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 3Father and grandfather drown jumping into hotel pool to save toddler
Father and grandfather drown jumping into hotel pool to save toddler
Fellow holidaymakers pulled the family from the water and performed CPR on the two men before paramedics arrived
Jason Wood MP
Father and grandfather drown jumping into hotel pool to save toddler
An aerial view of the Surfers Paradise skyline in Queensland, Australia
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Father and grandfather drown jumping into hotel pool to save toddler
Dharmvir Singh, 38, died at the seaside resort Surfers Paradise in eastern Australia’s Gold Coast on Sunday evening
Jason Wood MP
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in