AN IRISH boy who died in a Spanish drowning tragedy will have his Mass of the Angels celebrated in his native Cork.

The body of Avery James Greene (3) is being repatriated to Ireland for his funeral in Mallow, Co Cork on Friday evening.

He died after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool at Cabo Roig on the Costa Blanca in Spain around 9am on August 12.

It was the second overseas drowning tragedy to involve a Cork child in the space of just four days.

Emmy Sophia Eckert (5) from Ballincollig drowned in an accident at a lakeside resort in Dessau, Germany on August 8. She was buried last Monday.

At Cabo Roig, a man out for his morning swim on August 12 initially thought he spotted an inflatable toy in the swimming pool but was horrified to realise it was a little boy.

Avery had somehow slipped out of his family’s apartment unnoticed and gone to play by the pool.

It is unclear whether he tripped and fell into the pool or was attempting to paddle and got into difficulty.

Spanish police, a holidaymaker and paramedics worked for over an hour at the scene on his resuscitation before the little boy was airlifted to Alicante General Hospital.

Tragically, despite desperate efforts by doctors to save him, he later died.

Avery, the youngest of three children, had been in Spain as part of an extended family holiday which included his grandparents.

He will be lying in repose at O’Connell’s Funeral Home, St. James’ Avenue, Mallow on Friday from 3pm with prayers at 7.45pm.

His removal will then take place to St. Mary’s Church, Mallow. Avery’s Mass of the Angels will then be celebrated at 8.30pm.

The little boy is survived by his parents, Eric and Amanda, and his siblings, Lucia and Robyn.

His family have asked that mourners not send flowers but instead make a donation to the Kevin Bell Foundation which works with Irish families who suffer overseas bereavements and helps them with the repatriations of the remains of their loved one.

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