A British grandmother has died after attempting to save her granddaughter from the sea on the final day of their holiday in Menorca, Spain. The 69-year-old woman drowned while trying to rescue the 10-year-old girl, who had gotten into difficulty in the water while on an inflatable float.
Strong currents and gusts of wind, reaching nearly 30 miles per hour, reportedly pushed the inflatable towards a rocky area, causing it to overturn. The victim's husband and daughter also attempted to reach the child. While other beachgoers used a rope to pull the daughter and granddaughter to safety, the grandmother's husband managed to bring his wife's body ashore.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Cavalleria Beach, an undeveloped cove on the north side of Menorca. Emergency services, including police, paramedics, and firefighters, responded to the scene but were unable to save the woman.
The victim's husband was taken to a local hospital for treatment of cuts sustained during the rescue attempt. The granddaughter and her mother were treated for panic attacks.
An investigation into the tragedy is being led by the Civil Guard. Authorities are treating the incident as an accidental drowning, but a report will be sent to a local court. It is not yet clear where in the UK the family is from. They had been staying at a villa in Son Bou on the island for approximately one week.
Cavalleria Beach is known for its exposure to strong northern winds, which can create rough seas and strong currents. The local lifeguard service had concluded its operations for the season on October 15, meaning no professional assistance was available at the time of the incident. The beach is described as a large, undeveloped sandy area with clear waters, bisected by a rocky formation, and is subject to the Tramontana north wind.
A Spanish Coastguard helicopter was placed on standby but was not ultimately needed. The mayor of the municipality of Es Mercadel, Joan Palliser, also attended the scene.