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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Britons drown off Portugal coast | Britons drown off Portugal coast |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Three Britons and a German national have drowned off the south-west coast of the Algarve, in Portugal. | Three Britons and a German national have drowned off the south-west coast of the Algarve, in Portugal. |
| Three other Britons were being treated in hospital following the incident, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. | Three other Britons were being treated in hospital following the incident, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. |
| Local authorities said they dived in to save three children who were later washed ashore with slight injuries. | Local authorities said they dived in to save three children who were later washed ashore with slight injuries. |
| The British ambassador had contacted the civil governor, and the British consul in Portimao was travelling to the area, the Foreign Office added. | The British ambassador had contacted the civil governor, and the British consul in Portimao was travelling to the area, the Foreign Office added. |
| One of those who died off the coast of the south-western town of Sagres was picked up by a lifeboat and the other three were washed ashore by waves. | |
| 'Strong currents' | |
| Local emergency services were unable to revive the four adults who are believed to be aged between 40 and 50 years old. | Local emergency services were unable to revive the four adults who are believed to be aged between 40 and 50 years old. |
| A number of families had been swimming at the beach when some of the children got into difficulties near a large rock in the bay, the emergency services said. | |
| Commander Pereira, of the Maritime Authority in nearby Lagos, told BBC News 24: "The waters around the rock where they go to swim, or they have their bath, it's relatively calm but they have very strong winds, very strong currents." | |
| He said lifeboats, the fire service and a Merlin helicopter were called in as soon as the alarm was raised. | |
| The Foreign Office spokeswoman said next of kin were being informed. | The Foreign Office spokeswoman said next of kin were being informed. |
| No further details were available, she said. | No further details were available, she said. |