A BRITISH dad desperately tried to save his drowning children off a “yellow-flagged” beach, with a cop speaking of the rescue bid.
The brother and sister, aged 11 and 13 respectively, tragically died off Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona, on Tuesday evening.
SolarpixA British dad desperately tried to save his drowning children off a ‘yellow-flagged’ beach[/caption]
SolarpixThe brother and sister, aged 11 and 13 respectively, tragically died off Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona[/caption]
SolarpixThe family had reportedly been staying at the Negresco Hotel[/caption]
The two children, alongside their dad, had gone swimming from the rocky area of the Negresco Hotel – where the family had been staying, local media reports.
As they swam, the siblings were reportedly swept by the current and separated by a hundred metres, Civil Protection sources told DiariTots21.
Their dad reportedly made a desperate attempt to save them and had to be rescued himself after nearly drowning.
Three local cops had heroically jumped into the sea to rescue the family, with Chief Inspector Jose Luis Gargallo telling reporters that the sea was rough and a yellow flag had been raised.
One of the officers, identified only by his first name and the initial of his surname as Younes A, said: “A hotel worker was trying to get one of the three out of the sea when we arrived.
“We were told when we helped get that person out that another two people were in the sea who could be minors.
“We tried to locate them, saw bits of clothes and seconds later were able to locate and get a young girl out of the water and began resuscitation and another police force was the one responsible for getting the other child out of the sea.
“When the emergency services arrived they took over the efforts to save them until they said they couldn’t do anything more.
“We don’t know the circumstances leading up to them getting into difficulties.
“I leapt into the water with two other colleagues to get the father to safety first before going back to rescue one of the children.”
He added: “There were waves and wind. It was dangerous. There was a lot of swell.”
Lifeguards were not at the beach as their duties finished at 8pm – just 48 minutes before the harrowing incident unfolded, Gargallo said.
Cops managed to save the children’s dad, who had swallowed a lot of water and was very exhausted, Gargallo said.
The children were also brought to the shore but tragically could not be resuscitated.
Gargallo said: “When the officers arrived, there were three people with significant difficulties getting out of the sea; all resuscitation maneuvers were performed on the children, but without success.
“We did everything possible, we put the father in a safe area, we also took the minor and performed resuscitation on him, but without success.”
He added that CPR continued to be performed until emergency services arrived.
Gargallo explained how the couple had five children, and while the dad and two of the children were out swimming, the mum stayed at the hotel with the other three.
Salou Town Hall carried out a minute’s silence just before midday local time today following the tragedy.
Authorities said the deaths marked the 15th and 16th fatalities on Catalan beaches since June 15.
The number “already exceeds by five those registered in the same period last summer“.
Around five hours before the British children died, a 54-year-old German tourist drowned at a nearby beach in the resort of Cambrils.
He was rescued alive but died soon after he reached the shoreline.
The tragic incident occurred around 4.30pm yesterday at Cap Sant Pere beach in Cambrils.
Cambrils’ mayor Oliver Klein said afterwards: “We profoundly regret the loss of a human life on our coast.
“It’s a tragic incident which has left us deeply moved. I want to express my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person affected.”
SolarpixAround five hours before the British children died, a 54-year-old German tourist drowned at a nearby beach in the resort of Cambrils[/caption]