A two-year-old boy has drowned in a tragic accident in a swimming pool on the Island.

Cormac O'Donnell died at his family pool in Between The Walls, Pembroke, on Monday afternoon, despite frantic efforts by Police, neighbours and a Fire Services emergency response team to resuscitate him.

Police said it was thought the child died when his mother Debbie disappeared momentarily to either answer the telephone or to make a call.

The child was rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead at 5.35 p.m.

Yesterday, the boy's father Hugh O'Donnell, the Irish-born president of insurance company Aon Bermuda Ltd, Mrs. O'Donnell, and their other son, Dominic, who is less than a year old, were being comforted by friends and work colleagues.

Last night, the family was holding a traditional Irish celebration of Cormac's life at Horseshoe Beach.

A spokesman for Aon Bermuda Limited said yesterday: "It's a tragedy for the O'Donnell family and the company is in complete shock at the news and trying to support Hugh and his wife as best we can. You can imagine what the feeling is.'' Business writer Roger Crombie, a friend of Mr. O'Donnell, said yesterday: "I spoke to him today and he is stunned. He is a chartered accountant, a very level-headed kind of man, but there is no way you can really react to something like this -- it numbs you.

"Both he and his wife, who is also a chartered accountant, were supporters of the folk club. They were not fast lane people.

"I know they were both very conscientious parents. I don't know the details, but it must have been a terrible accident that happened through bad luck, not bad parenting.'' Neighbours yesterday expressed their horror at the accident and described Cormac as a "sweet little boy''.

One neighbour said: "We've heard about it and the whole neighbourhood feels horrible. It could happen to anyone and I don't think anyone is to blame.'' Another mother in the up-market neighbourhood just off Pitts Bay Road, added: "I don't know much about what happened but he was a sweet little boy.'' Boy, 2, drowns No members of the family were at the O'Donnell home, Way's End, yesterday but friends were helping make domestic arrangements. It is understood the family spent Monday night at the home of one of Mr. O'Donnell's work colleagues.

Acting Superintendent Steve Shaw, the commander of Central Division, said: "The mother was with the child, and my understanding is that either the telephone rang or she went to use the telephone and it was a very short period of time. It is tragic.

"Our indications are there was an early response as soon as the alarm was raised. The mother was at the house and neighbours were present when the Police arrived.

"Emergency Medical Teams from the Fire Department were there very quickly, then the ambulance. Death was pronounced at the hospital shortly after 5 p.m.'' One neighbour who agreed to be named, Matthew Watson, 16, said: "I just heard he fell into the pool. I didn't know them well but I had seen them around.'' A post-mortem was carried out yesterday, but the results have not been released.