An 11-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister lost their lives after being caught in rough waters off Llarga Beach in Salou, Spain. Emergency responders pulled the children and their father from the sea late Tuesday evening, but despite rescue efforts, the siblings could not be revived.
Local officials confirmed the father survived but required medical attention after ingesting a significant amount of water. Authorities initially misreported the victims’ genders, later correcting that the deceased were a brother and sister.
José Luis Gargallo, a senior police official, noted that while the beach is typically safe for swimming, conditions had turned dangerous that evening. “The sea was unusually rough—people often underestimate its power,” he said. Lifeguards had already left for the day when the emergency call came in shortly before 9 p.m.
The family, visiting from the UK, was staying at a nearby hotel. The mother and other children were not present during the incident. Support services, including psychologists, were dispatched to assist the grieving relatives.
This incident marks one of several recent drownings along Catalonia’s coastline, with 16 fatalities recorded since mid-June—a sharp increase from last year. In a separate tragedy the same day, a 54-year-old German man also drowned at a nearby beach.
Local officials have pledged to review safety measures to prevent future accidents. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office confirmed it is assisting the family and coordinating with Spanish authorities.
Salou, a popular destination for British tourists, sees over a million UK visitors annually. The tragedy follows other recent incidents involving British nationals in Spain, raising concerns over summer safety near water.
Authorities have urged beachgoers to exercise extreme caution, particularly when warning flags are raised. A minute of silence was held in Salou on Wednesday to honor the victims.
