British footballer’s 2-year-old brother dies after being found unresponsive in pool during Spain holiday

Hartley Wareham, 2, died in Spain.

The two-year-old brother of Exeter City footballer Jayden Wareham has died after being pulled unresponsive from a swimming pool while on a family holiday in Spain.Hartley Wareham died on 3 July, four days after the incident at a holiday villa where the family were staying, according to BBC.During a hearing at Exeter Coroner’s Court on 22 July, it was revealed that the toddler was found in the pool on 29 June.Hartley’s father pulled him from the water and immediately began CPR before his mother took over. Paramedics later restored the child’s heartbeat before he was taken to hospital.Despite initial efforts to save him, Hartley’s condition later worsened and he died four days later.Assistant coroner Alison Longhorn, who is overseeing the inquest, said Hartley’s cause of death included immersion in water and acute respiratory distress syndrome.Hartley was the younger brother of Exeter City forward Jayden Wareham, who plays for the League Two club.Following the tragedy, Exeter City expressed its support for the Wareham family in a statement shared on Facebook.

The club said: “Our sincere condolences to the Wareham family following a devastating family bereavement. Our thoughts are with all of their family and friends. We will be supporting Jayden through this very difficult time.” Hartley’s family have also launched a JustGiving fundraiser to create a bespoke Hey Duggee memorial bench in the garden he loved, describing the animated character as the two-year-old’s “absolute favourite thing in the world”. Any money raised beyond the cost of the bench will go towards bereavement counselling for the family.Exeter City has backed the appeal, saying the memorial will provide the family with “a special place where they can sit close to him and remember the wonderful moments that were shared.” The fundraiser has already raised more than £2,300, Devon live reports.