A FAMILY has been left devastated after a toddler drowned in a paddling pool at his home.

Two-year-old Jamie Sloan, known as Little Smiler, was taken by ambulance to the accident and emergency department at Ashford's William Harvey Hospital but resuscitation attempts failed.

Jamie, from Curtis Road, South Willesborough, had a twin brother Dominic. Six days before the tragedy, the family were celebrating the twins’ second birthday. Jamie was one of five sons of John and Sarah Sloan.

Mr Sloan, a contract electrician, said yesterday: “The twins were playing with their toy cars in the kitchen on Sunday morning and Jamie, who was named James Peter after my brother who died at the age of 19, must have wandered outside to play in the garden.

“My wife found him in the paddling pool that was only half full with water, that would not have come up to his knees. Now we are trying to be strong and come to terms with this horrific incident that has shattered our lives.”

The funeral service will be held at St Teresa’s Catholic Church, Ashford, on Tuesday at 10am followed by burial at Bybrook cemetery. Police have confirmed that it was an accident.