Son’s swimming pool death ‘a living horror story’

She described the night she received a call from the leisure centre, informing her of the incident.

“They said he was found at the bottom of the swimming pool,” Teresa said.

“At that moment I just felt as if I had a very, very intricate piece of embroidery or work, and it was just unravelling in front of me. I could feel my whole world collapsing in like a vortex.”

Malachy said he constantly relieved that day.

“It has taken over our lives and I would go as far as to say it has ruined it,” he said.

“All the things you used to enjoy, you feel terrible guilty enjoying them because you know there’s a gap at the table every time you go to eat.

“When we sit in the living room, there’s an empty chair.”

Teresa said every day since losing Christopher was a fight for her mental health.

“It’s like living in a horror story. You’re living with stark horror every day,” she said.

“He went down to the pool for a swim. It was a normal thing for him to do and he comes home to you in a wooden box.

“He was a very kind, very lovable, beautiful young man. I can’t understand why this happened.”