THE death of a ‘beautiful, always smiling’ four-year-old boy in a South Lakes caravan park swimming pool has been ruled a tragic accident.

Luca Hurle, of Thomas Grange, Newport, Gwent, was swimming in a private indoor swimming pool on holiday at Old Park Wood Caravan Park, near Cark, on Monday when he drowned at around 3.45pm.

An inquest held in Liverpool today heard the youngster had been spotted wearing arm bands by witnesses while playing with father Gavin Hurle and his brother just 15 minutes before being discovered unconscious without them by stepmother Donna Southcott.

After efforts were made to revive him at scene, Luca was rushed to Furness General Hospital in Barrow before being transferred via helicopter to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

But he was pronounced dead 24 hours later after showing no signs of neurological recovery.

Area coroner for Liverpool and the Wirral, Anita Bhardwaj, concluded Luca’s death was a 'heartbreaking and tragic accident' and that the youngster died from drowning and a hypoxic brain injury.