An Irish tourist died after swimming at a famous attraction in Portugal, where she is believed to have suffered a heart attack.
The unnamed 57-year-old male had taken a dip at the Benagil Sea Cave, near the popular resort of Lagoa, when he got into difficulties. Emergency crews were called just before 3pm yesterday afternoon as two locals jumped into the sea to try to help.
The man and his two would-be rescuers were taken to dry land on a boat but, despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members believed to have been with him at the time are now receiving support.
A spokesman for Portugal’s National Maritime Authority confirmed overnight: “A 57-year-old Irish national died yesterday afternoon having gone into cardiac arrest after swimming at the Benagil Sea Cave. An alert was received just before 3pm, informing us that a person was unwell after being taken to the nearest strip of sand.
Several locals tried to help the unnamed man (Getty Images/iStockphoto)“Officers from Portimao’s Maritime Police local command, as well as paramedics and other emergency responders, were mobilised along with firefighters from Lagoa. Upon arrival at the scene, they found the holidaymaker had been removed from the cave by a tourist boat and taken to the beach area where he was assisted by medical experts who carried out CPR. It was unfortunately not possible to save the man’s life.
Strictly star Saffron Barker's brother in hospital after 'major heart attack'
“He was declared dead at the scene and his body subsequently taken to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Portimão by Lagoa voluntary firefighters. The Maritime Police Psychology Office was activated and is providing support to the victim's family.”
The Benagil Sea Cave is regularly described as Portugal’s most famous sea cave and is regarded as a must for holidaymakers visiting the Algarve. Yesterday's afternoon’s drama comes just five weeks after another Irish tourist drowned on the Algarve in front of his partner.
The 52-year-old got into difficulties at Inatel beach in Albufeira, next to the hotel complex that gives it its name. The alarm was raised just before 1pm local time on April 20.
In March last year British and Irish holidaymakers cheated death when their tourist boat capsized near the Algarve resort of Carvoeiro as they returned from a visit to the Benagil sea cave. Five British and two Irish holidaymakers were among the 36 people on board at the time.
The vessel came close to sinking after taking on water. Dramatic pictures showed the boat upturned and mostly below water after a dramatic rescue operation involving firefighters, coastguard, police and civil protection workers.
Tourist Troy French, from London, said afterwards: "I was on the phone to some of my colleagues back in England and then I looked behind me and there was lots of water coming into the boat.
“The crew started to panic and they started lifting some emergency things up and the water started going into the engine and it was smoking. They got everyone to move to the front of the boat and then the back of the boat was sinking, sinking, sinking to the point where everyone just started jumping into the water.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
