An American Five-year-old drowns in Mombasa hotel pool

A five-year-old American boy tragically drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Mombasa, prompting renewed calls for parental vigilance as the festive season approaches.

The boy, identified as Zayd Abdallah, had travelled from Nairobi with his mother, Mihat Hassan, and other relatives to attend a wedding scheduled for October 14.

According to police reports, the family was staying at a hotel in Nyali when the incident occurred.

Police said Zayd was playing with other children near the pool at around 4:30 pm on Tuesday when he jumped into the water.

“Hotel security personnel quickly responded, and the child was rushed to the hospital in an attempt to resuscitate him. Unfortunately, doctors pronounced him dead on arrival,” the police noted.

“The victim was playing with other children when he suddenly entered the pool. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful,” said a police report filed under OB No. 52/07/10/2025 at Nyali Police Station.

The boy’s body has been taken to the hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.

The County Commissioner expressed condolences to the bereaved family and reminded parents and guardians to closely monitor their children, especially as families start to flock to the Coast for holidays and social events.

“We urge all parents to be extra vigilant and always keep a close eye on their children, particularly near water bodies,” he said.

In a separate incident on the same day, a 35-year-old man, identified as Peter Njenga Njoroge, drowned while swimming at Pirates Beach in Bamburi.

Witnesses said Njoroge was rescued by good Samaritans at around 5:00 pm. He was rushed to Yeshua Medicare for emergency treatment, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police are investigating both incidents, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) handling the cases in Nyali and Bamburi, respectively.

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in coastal Kenya, particularly among children and visitors unfamiliar with local swimming conditions.

Authorities have urged hotels, beach operators, and families to enhance safety measures and supervision to prevent further tragedies.