Double tragedy as British girl, 2, dies after falling in Turkish pool after uncle drowned in lake

Lucy Cardwell was playing in the garden of a house in the resort of Dalyan when she fell into the water, hitting her head.

She had to be resuscitated at the poolside after her frantic mother spotted her and pulled her to safety but she died after spending two days in a coma.

The tragedy comes just 17 months after her 15-year-old uncle, Daniel Cardwell, drowned in a nature reserve lake near Whitley Bay.

Tragic: Daniel Cardwell, 15, and his niece Lucy Cardwell, 2, who both drowned in tragic accidents within 17 months of each other

The Foreign Office confirmed Lucy's death. A spokesman said: 'We can confirm that a British national did die in an incident in Turkey on Friday.'

The toddler, from Whitley Bay, north Tyneside, was playing in the garden at the family friend's house when she fell in the pool.

She was on holiday with her mother, Sophie and her partner Karl as well as her grandfather John.

It is believed she was messing around on the side of the pool when she slipped and hit her head last Wednesday.

Lucy lost her fight for life two days after hitting her head in a pool in Turkey

Local reports said her mother had dived into the pool as soon as she realised what had happened and desperately tried to save her daughter's life.

Paramedics managed to bring the toddler back to life at the poolside after massaging her heart before she was taken to four different hospitals.

Lucy was eventually taken into intensive care and put on a ventilator but lost her fight for life on Friday, when she was pronounced dead.

Before she died, her mother was said to have wept in the hospital corridor: 'Save my daughter.'

In March last year, Lucy's uncle, Daniel, died when he went swimming in a lake at Marden Quarry, in Whitley Bay, after drinking with friends.

His clothes and mobile phone were found at the water's edge but his body was not discovered until three days later - by coincidence on Lucy's first birthday.

Friends and family have left messages about Lucy's death on a tribute website dedicated to Daniel.

On the Gone Too Soon website, Dan Dryden, from Newcastle, a friend of Daniel's, wrote: 'im sorry to hear about your lucy like my thoughts go out to every1 in ur family, especially sophie!'

'But no doubt uncle dan will look after and protect her up there, rip both of yous, such a shame.'

Grief: Sophie Cardwell, right, mum of two-year-old Lucy, comforts her own mother Marie at the funeral of her brother Daniel last year

Another well-wisher, named only as Staci, from Whitley Bay, wrote: 'Hey Danson. Can't believe this has happened all over again with Lucy, please help your family get through this.

'They have the support from every1, we all miss u still so so much. Look afta ur little angel niece."

And another uncle, Paul Armstrong, from Whitley Bay, wrote: 'Take care of our little niece daniel, a kna ya will. take care, miss you both.'

Sources said Lucy's family were still in Turkey and were expected to remain there for the next few days.