British Man and Girl Drown in Portugal
On Tuesday, two British holidaymakers drowned as they walked along Salgada beach at Nazare in Portugal. The five-year-old girl and her grandfather were knocked off their feet by a freak wave and swept into the water. It’s believed that the woman who was with them is the grandmother. She was swept out to sea by the wave as well, but was able to survive. She is understood to be recovering in the hospital.
It’s been reported that the three were taking a walk while the girl’s parents were sunbathing. The wave overcame them in an area outside of where the lifeguards patrol at around 2pm. A small boat manned by two fishermen rushed to help the trio when they discovered them struggling in the water. They alerted emergency services, pulled them out of the sea and headed for the shore.
However, by the time they got to shore, the little girl and grandfather had stopped breathing. Rescuers on the beach tried to revive them without success. The identities of the 5-year-old and grandfather haven’t been revealed. The grandmother was taken to a nearby Albaca hospital. The parents are said to be deeply shocked about the tragedy.
Salgado beach is popular among body boarders and surfers, but the tides that hit the shore are known by locals as dangerous. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said they are aware of the death of two British nationals on a Portuguese beach. They are liaising with local authorities, they added. Swimmers are warned to be careful, and the FCO advises travellers to pay extra attention to the warning flags put out by lifeguards.