DISTRAUGHT staff today spoke of their shock and upset at the death of fire victim Gemma Waddington - nearly two years after she was saved from drowning at their pool.

Seven-year-old Gemma died together with her two sisters, 11 year-old Louise and Hayley, 10, after a fire at their Hapton home on Friday night.

Her death comes two years after staff at Waves Leisure Complex in Blackburn, gave the youngster the kiss of life after she nearly drowned during a family outing.

Lifeguards Kath O'Brien and Heather Crane spotted that Gemma was unconscious in the water.

It is believed she had fallen in the at the deep end of the pool after going to look for her father, who had gone to the toilet.

Both women received an award from the Royal Lifesaving Society following the incident in the summer of 2002.

Heather, who now works as a lifeguard at Daisyfield Pools, Blackburn, said: "I was on the poolside when Kath saw a blue shape lying on the bottom of the pool, not moving.

"I blew my whistle and ran over and Kath dived in. By the time I got there Kath had brought her to the side and I grabbed hold of Gemma's wrists, pulled her out and started resuscitation.

"I didn't really know Gemma because she wasn't one of our pool regulars having come from Burnley.

"It was such a shock because she was such a beautiful girl.

"It is awful thing that has happened. A real shame."

Manager at Waves, Mike Billington, was on duty on the day of the rescue.

Today he said: "I remember it was a busy, summer day.

"Luckily Gemma was spotted in the water. Kath went into the water and performed the rescue and Heather helped to pull her out.

"They did CPR and brought her round.

"The incident stuck in my mind because of all the publicity afterwards.

"The staff do have to help from time to time when swimmers get of out their depth.

"But because it involved a resuscitation it was particularly memorable.

"I wasn't aware that it was Gemma who had died in the fire at the weekend and was shocked and saddened to hear the news."