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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Parents drowned in sea rescue bid | Parents drowned in sea rescue bid |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| An inquest has heard how a man fought to rescue four children from the sea in Portugal but was unable to save his wife or two friends from the current. | |
| Roy Dinsmore, 48, of Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, told the court how he helped save the children but that his wife was "snatched from his grasp". | |
| Mr Dinsmore's wife and another couple drowned in the sea at Praia do Tonel beach, near Sagres, in October 2007. | |
| The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure. | The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure. |
| Robert and Deborah Fry and Jean Dinsmore, all of Wootton Bassett, all died. | |
| Mr and Mrs Fry's children, Rosie and George, survived along with Mrs Dinsmore's children, Lydia and Alex. | Mr and Mrs Fry's children, Rosie and George, survived along with Mrs Dinsmore's children, Lydia and Alex. |
| A German man also died trying to save his daughter who survived. | A German man also died trying to save his daughter who survived. |
| 'Surf crashing' | 'Surf crashing' |
| Mr Fry and his wife were holidaying in the Algarve with Roy and Jean Dinsmore, and a third couple, Dean and Susan Plumb. | Mr Fry and his wife were holidaying in the Algarve with Roy and Jean Dinsmore, and a third couple, Dean and Susan Plumb. |
| The adults had raced into the sea to help three children who were all sucked out to sea by the current. | The adults had raced into the sea to help three children who were all sucked out to sea by the current. |
| All the children were swept on to the shore with minor injuries but attempts to resuscitate the adults failed. | All the children were swept on to the shore with minor injuries but attempts to resuscitate the adults failed. |
| Mr Dinsmore told the inquest: "I got hold of her (his wife) and tried to rescue her. With hindsight she must have taken water on board. She was a strong swimmer. | Mr Dinsmore told the inquest: "I got hold of her (his wife) and tried to rescue her. With hindsight she must have taken water on board. She was a strong swimmer. |
| "I swam with her getting buffeted by the waves, being swept up the beach and back out. Surf was crashing over our heads making it difficult to float. She was conscious, but it was a limited extent. | "I swam with her getting buffeted by the waves, being swept up the beach and back out. Surf was crashing over our heads making it difficult to float. She was conscious, but it was a limited extent. |
| "A wave broke over our heads and I lost my grip on her. It took me minutes to discover where she was. She was face down in the sea." | "A wave broke over our heads and I lost my grip on her. It took me minutes to discover where she was. She was face down in the sea." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said after the tragedy that the nation's "heartfelt thoughts" were with the children of those who drowned. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said after the tragedy that the nation's "heartfelt thoughts" were with the children of those who drowned. |
| The beach is popular with surfers because of its strong waves but there were no lifeguards on duty at the time. | The beach is popular with surfers because of its strong waves but there were no lifeguards on duty at the time. |