Four Parents Die Trying To Save Children

Three British parents drowned as they attempted to rescue their children when they became trapped in strong currents off a Portuguese beach yesterday afternoon.

Bob and Debbie Fry had rushed into the ocean at Praia do Tonel after their children, George and Rose, had got into trouble while playing with a German youngster.

When the couple from Wootton Bassett, near Swindon in Wiltshire, were dragged out into the sea their friend Jean Dinsmore also waded into the waves to try to rescue the children. All three were swept away from the sandy cove at the most south-westerly point of Europe.

Meanwhile, the father of the German youngster rescued his child while another man rescued George, 9, and Rose, 11. The German man died of a heart attack after reaching the beach.

The coastguard last night recovered the bodies of the three British holidaymakers as Iselda Gomes, the civil governor of the Algarve, described their deaths as one of the biggest tragedies to have hit the region.

The Fry and Dinsmore families had been on the beach with Dean and Susan Plumb when the children got into difficulty at about 5.30pm. They were among a group of about five children aged between 6 and 12 who had been playing in the sea.

Ms Gomes, who was with the rescued children at the hospital, told The Times: “The children were playing in the sea and they called for help. Some of the parents went to help them and they got into difficulties.

“Bob and Debbie went into the sea to try to help their children but the waves were too much for them. Jean saw that they were in difficulty and she went in to help.

“The German father rescued his child and got back to the beach but then his heart stopped. The English children were rescued by another man who was on the beach.

Mrs Dinsmore’s husband, Roy, and their two children were being offered assistance by the British Consul from Portugal. Mr and Mrs Plumb, who come from Swindon, will be interviewed by police this morning as they attempt to re-create the events of yesterday afternoon.

George, Rose and the German youngster were last night in the Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio being treated for shock and hypothermia.

Ms Gomes said: “The beach can be dangerous but there are warning signs saying that there can be currents. Nothing like this has ever happened in the Algarve before. It is a tragedy.”

The British families were staying at the opulent golf resort of Parque de Floresta, near Sagres.

The Portuguese authorities had mounted a large-scale rescue operation involving the Maritime Police, lifeguards and the National Institute of Medical Emergency.

Commander Marques Pereira of the Guarda Nacional Republicana said: “The adults jumped into the water to save the children. Some got out alive but unfortunately some of the others drowned. All the children survived.”

The beach is just 20 miles from Praia da Luz, the resort where Madeleine McCann disappeared.

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