TWO-and-a-half years after an Upavon toddler drowned in his family’s swimming pool, his mother will be trained at a survival technique course in America that she hopes will prevent more families from suffering similar tragedies.

On July 9, 2014, Jack Rowe died on his third birthday after falling into the family swimming pool in the family’s Grey Flags home in Pewsey Road.

Just weeks after the former St Francis nursery school pupil’s death, his parents Olivia, 41, and Nigel Rowe, 52, set up the Jack Rabbit Foundation to support lifesaving swimming techniques and raise awareness of this issue, which has since raised more than £83,000.

In February, Mrs Rowe and her swimming teacher friend Joanna Borthwick, from Rushall, will head to Orlando to train in a month-long specialist course that enables swimming instructors to teach children from six months to six years what to do if they fall into water.

“Even if this saves one other child’s life it would be 100 per cent worth it. We want to raise awareness of this crucial issue and bring this survival technique training, the Infant Swimming Resource, from America to Europe,” said Mrs Rowe, who is taking her 15-month-old son Zander, as well as Joanna’s children.

“I am slightly apprehensive and frightened about this for a number of reasons. It will be quite strange doing the training after all that we have been through but I am very glad Joanna and her children are coming too as she was very keen to get involved.

“This is the whole purpose of what we set out to do as a charity. We have been working towards this for over two years and I have to say the support we have received is fantastic.

“It will be for five days a week, four hours a day so it will be quite intense. I have seen what this can do in helping children become self-proficient. It would be amazing to start a UK course as it is so valuable.”

The course, which focuses on safe, customised, one-on-one lessons by certified instructors, teaches children the skill of getting onto their backs to float, rest and breathe. They then learn to maintain this position until help arrives.

“The scope of this is gigantic. Olivia came up with this within weeks of Jack’s death. Her whole ambition is being realised and I am so proud of her,” said Mr Rowe.

“She saw this technique and was passionate about bringing it to this country. This could save so many children’s lives.

“We did a charity bike ride in the summer and one person came up to me and said that this is keeping Jack’s name alive and makes his memory live on for something very positive.

“I am using my contacts to try and get backers involved but Olivia started it all. When they return the next step is trying to help spread it here and get a foothold. Joanna is a swimming coach and can hopefully pass it on, along with schools and groups. This could be the start of something huge.”

To donate to their fund visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/thejackrabbitfoundation