Two young British brothers have drowned in the sea off the Spanish coast, as their father looked on helplessly during a family holiday in Salou.
The boys, aged 11 and 13, got into difficulty while swimming at Llarga Beach in the Tarragona province on Tuesday evening.
Their father entered the water with them but was rescued alive, local officials said.
Emergency services responded swiftly to a distress call, but efforts to revive the children were unsuccessful.
Both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
The family is understood to have been staying at the nearby Hotel Best Negresco, a popular holiday spot on the Costa Dorada.
The incident occurred just before 9 pm local time, after lifeguard services had ended for the day.
Catalonia’s Civil Protection agency confirmed that yellow warning flags had been displayed earlier that day, cautioning swimmers of potential hazards in the water.
While the exact circumstances remain under investigation, authorities have said conditions may have contributed to the tragedy.
A statement from the Civil Protection of the Generalitat confirmed the ages and nationality of the victims.
It read: “Two brothers, of British nationality and aged 11 and 13, drowned this evening on the Llarga Beach in Salou (Tarragona).”
“The father of the minors, who had also entered the water, was rescued alive.”
“These are the 15th and 16th fatalities on Catalan beaches since the summer campaign officially began on June 15.”
That figure already surpasses the total number of beach-related deaths recorded during the same period last year.
Emergency services received the alert at8:47 pmm.
Seven land units from the regional Medical Emergency System were dispatched, alongside a psychological support team for the family.
Witnesses reported scenes of distress as medical responders attempted to resuscitate the children.
Despite the rapid response, neither boy could be saved.
The beach had been monitored earlier in the day, but lifeguards were no longer present when the tragedy occurred.
Tourists and beachgoers have since left floral tributes at the shoreline.
A Civil Protection spokesperson reiterated the need for swimmers to exercise caution, especially in unsupervised waters.
“If you notice that someone is unwell or has difficulties in the water, you should urgently notify the lifeguard service or call 112 to facilitate their rapid action,” the agency advised.
Local authorities say they are continuing to investigate the sequence of events that led to the drowning.
The British Embassy in Madrid said it was aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance to the family.
No details have been released about the identity of the victims or their hometown in the UK.
The tragedy comes amid a surge in beach drownings across Spain this summer.
Safety officials have urged tourists to pay attention to beach flag warnings and never swim alone or without supervision.
The Llarga Beach remains open, but enhanced signage has been placed along the coastline.
Local councillors expressed condolences and pledged support for the family affected.
Editing by M10News World Desk | Contact: worlddesk@m10news.com
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