Algarve beach 'warnings were issued'
- 00:01:22
- ITN
Algarve beach 'warnings were issued'
The children who survived the Algarve beach tragedy were warned to keep out of the sea, it has emerged.Three British parents and a German man drowned while trying to rescue children who were caught in a rip tide.A part-time lifeguard, who was not on duty, said he had warned the British youngsters to leave the water 15 minutes before the tragedy began to unfold.Daniel Salvaterra, 33, said: "I was on the beach and saw the children out playing in the currents. the water wasn't very deep, just up to their waists but I went out and told them it was dangerous and they came back to the beach."But 15 minutes later as he headed to his car he heard the trouble on the beach but by time he reached the shore the youngsters were safe and he could not help save the adults."The trouble is the guys who went out to save the children were trying to fight against the currents, which made them panic and get tired," he said.Meanwhile, a row has erupted over whether the dangers of a stretch of beach in the Algarve were made clear enough to visitors.Robert and Deb Fry from Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, waded into the water when their children George, nine and Rosie, 11 got into difficulties with five others off the Praia do Tonel beach in Sagres, Portugal.Friend and neighbour Jean Dinsmore, who had accompanied the Frys on holiday with her own family, entered the sea when the youngsters struggled against the strong current.Mrs Dinsmore was swept away while a German tourist managed to get his daughter to safety, but later suffered a heart attack and died on the beach.The remaining children were later washed ashore and all survived.In a joint statement issued through the Foreign Office on Tuesday night, the families of the three victims said: "We are deeply shocked by the events of yesterday and need time to come to terms with the loss of three of our loved ones."Our priority now is to provide support to the bereaved children involved and ask that the media respect our privacy and that of our family and friends at this very difficult time."A further three adults required hospital treatment following the incident, but only one - Dean Plumb - remained in hospital on Tuesday afternoon.The commander of the local maritime police, Pedro Pereira, revealed that the beach was closed for the winter and signs warned bathers that there were no lifeguards on duty.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
ITN | October 24, 2007
