An English family is coming to terms with a tragic loss. Two siblings drowned while on vacation in Spain. Even though their dad jumped in to rescue them, the kids could not be saved. Normally, this particular beach is a safe area, but the day of the drowning, waters were rougher than usual. Swimmers were warned to take caution, but itâs easy for accidents to happen. Their loss is a reminder of the importance of listening to warnings and staying aware of your surroundings in water.
The boy and girl, ages 11 and 13, were swimming at Salou, a popular Mediterranean resort in northeastern Spain on July 29, 2025, The Guardian reported. They started having trouble, and their father rushed into the water to help them.Â
Reports say they were swimming in a rocky area off the beach and the strong waves made it hard for them to get back to the beach. Their father also needed to be rescued.
Emergency services were called to the Platja Llarga around 9 p.m. Emergency workers on the scene included police and members of the fire department. All three were pulled from the water.
âTragically, the boy and girl could not be saved despite the best efforts of rescuers,â JosĂ© Luis Gargallo, head of the local police force, told the BBC. He explained that the father survived, âalthough he had swallowed a large amount of water and was in a state of exhaustion.â
Lifeguards were already off duty by time as the incident took place. Gargallo explained that the water near the beach is normally calm. âBut [Tuesday] was different â not just at that beach, but along the entire coast,â he said. The officer also said authorities would âreview everythingâ to make sure a similar tragedy didnât strike again.
According to Gargallo, the family was a family of five. The mother and another child were at their nearby hotel when the siblings drowned.
