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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Britons drown off Portugal coast | Britons drown off Portugal coast |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Three Britons and a German national have drowned off the south-west coast of the Algarve, in Portugal, while trying to save children. | |
| Three other Britons were in hospital following the incident near the town of Sagres, said the Foreign Office. | Three other Britons were in hospital following the incident near the town of Sagres, said the Foreign Office. |
| Local authorities said they dived in to try to help three children later washed ashore with slight injuries. | Local authorities said they dived in to try to help three children later washed ashore with slight injuries. |
| The names of the two men and two women have not yet been released. British officials are travelling to the scene. | |
| 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. |
| The region's governor said two of the children have lost both parents, and an aunt was on her way to be with them. Another two children lost their mother, and the father of another child was in hospital. | |
| 'Strong currents' | 'Strong currents' |
| 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. | 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. |
| But local emergency services were unable to revive the four adults who are believed to be aged between 40 and 50 years old. | But 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. | 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 Pedro 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." | |
| Treacherous waves | Treacherous waves |
| Several lifeboats, a helicopter and other emergency services were scrambled as soon as the alarm was raised at about 1700 local time (1700 BST). | |
| The beach faced into the Atlantic and was popular with surfers owing to its reputation for strong waves, but the current could pull people out to sea more easily than swimmers realised. | |
| "There is a current and some deep waters that caused them to get in distress," Mr Pereira said. | |
| "They asked for help and all the families that are with them ran to help them, also some people that are close by.." | |
| As the official summer bathing season ended several weeks ago on the coast there were no lifeguards on duty. | |
| 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. |
| Holiday company The Vigia Group described the drownings as a "terrible tragedy" and said it was offering support to those affected. |