British toddler seized by Portuguese police
A British toddler has been taken into emergency care in the Algarve after her parents allegedly threw her into a hotel swimming pool.
Police took the 14-month-old away from the couple, who witnesses say were "drunk and disorderly".
The mother was also seen staggering around with the little girl in her arms on the eighth-floor balcony of their hotel room, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The family was staying at the four-star Hotel Paraiso in Albuferia when staff called police after they allegedly threw their 14-month-old baby daughter in the swimming pool
Police took the child into emergency care after they allegedly spotted unexplained bruises on her body, according to local reports.
Yesterday prosecutors were questioning the couple, believed to be from Belfast, while the child was being cared for at a children’s hospital in the regional capital Faro.
Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias claimed: "The couple threw the baby into the pool, causing enormous concern to hotel guests having dinner nearby."
When police were called, the father allegedly tried to fight with officers, according to local reports.
The couple were not arrested, but face two separate investigations, one by the Albufeira Judicial Court into the alleged behaviour of the father, and the other by the Family Court in Portimão to determine the welfare of the baby.
A hospital spokesman said later that the little girl was fine, with "no health problems’".
The family had been coming to the end of a week-long holiday, but will now need the permission of the family court before being allowed to return to the UK.
Last night the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of an incident involving a British couple and we are providing consular assistance."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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