A heartbreaking tragedy struck Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona province, as an 11-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister, both British nationals, drowned after encountering serious difficulty in the sea on Tuesday evening. Emergency responders arrived shortly after 8:45pm to assist the family in distress.
The children were swept away by powerful currents while swimming with their father, who also entered the water but was later rescued unconscious. Despite immediate CPR efforts, the siblings showed no signs of life upon reaching the shore and were pronounced dead at the scene. Their father remains hospitalized but in stable condition following the rescue.
Initial reports mistakenly identified the victims as two brothers, but Salou’s local police chief, Jose Luis Gargallo, clarified during a press briefing that the victims were a brother and sister. He described the rescue efforts, saying, “All three were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea. The father was exhausted after swallowing a lot of water but was saved thanks to the prompt intervention of emergency services.”
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Psychologists were present to support the grieving family on site. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is assisting the family and maintaining contact with Spanish authorities.
This tragedy adds to a recent series of unfortunate deaths involving British nationals abroad this month, including the loss of two young men in a hotel swimming pool in Albufeira, Portugal. Portuguese authorities have ruled the incident there as accidental, with no suspicion of foul play.
The community mourns the loss of the young siblings whose lives were cut short by the powerful sea currents off Salou.