*Gabriel and daughter, Comfort

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has paid tribute to its pastor, Gabriel Diya and his two children, Comfort and Praise-Emmanuel who drowned at a holiday resort on the Costa del Sol in Spain.

The Diyas were found unresponsive in a swimming pool on Christmas Eve at Club La Costa World, near Fuengirola, a statement from the owners said.

The father was aged 52, while the daughter and son were aged nine and 16.

Gabriel, who headed the Open Heavens branch of the church in Charlton, South-East London, United Kingdom, was said to have gone to the complex with his family as tourists when tragedy struck on Christmas Eve.

The Daily Mail UK reported that the pastor and his and his two children drowned because they could not swim.

The paper reported that Gabriel’s wife, Olubunmi (49), and their younger daughter, Favour (14), who were also on the trip, were not harmed.

RCCG said in a post on Facebook: “With heavy hearts, we extend our condolences to the family, parish, friends and associates of Area Pastor Gabriel Diya who sadly passed away, along with two of his children… in a tragic incident while on a family holiday in Spain.

“At this very difficult time, our prayers are for Pastor Gabriel Diya’s family, the parishes that were under his supervision, friends, associates, members of RCCG and the general public,” the post added.

A neighbour of the Diyas said she was “really devastated” to learn of the deaths, describing them as “very religious, very friendly, very humble”.

Speaking outside her home in Charlton, Lara Akins, 59, added: “I still can’t comprehend it, it’s still shocking.

“They are so nice, that is why everybody is shocked… we are very friendly with each other.”

Police said they were checking claims the young girl got into difficulties and the other two died trying to save her.

Police said divers retrieved Comfort’s swimming hat from the pool pump but investigators had found nothing wrong with the pool, which has since reopened.

Because the pool is a very small one, lifeguards were “not necessary” so there were none present, a spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard told BBC.

On Thursday, the family told investigators that none of their relatives could properly swim and only nine-year-old Comfort had “some idea.”

Autopsies performed at Malaga’s Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed that the British father and his two children died by drowning.

Pathologists found no signs of any external injuries or evidence that they had been poisoned, during the examinations.

Medical experts have also found nothing pointing to Favour suffering any chlorine poisoning.

The UK Foreign Office said it was supporting a British woman in Spain, thought to be the children’s mother.

Diya and his daughter were both British passport holders while his son had an American passport.

In a statement released on Thursday, the owners of Club La Costa World said the resort “continues to co-operate fully with the authorities investigating this appalling tragedy”.

“Naturally, we will continue to offer every assistance and comply fully and transparently with any requests made by them.

“At the same time, we are doing everything possible to provide care and support to bereaved family members and to all our other guests,” the statement added