Enlarge image
Beach near Tarragona: At the site of the accident in northeastern Spain, the coast is rocky
Photo: Xavi Gomez/Cover/Getty Images
A German died during a rescue attempt on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Despite the turbulent seas near Tarragona in the north-east of the country, he went into the water to help a drowning 16-year-old - and ended up in distress himself.
As a police spokesman explained, both the man and the teenager died in the water. Helpers tried unsuccessfully to rescue them with two helicopters and boats. At the site of the accident the coast is rocky.
Authorities had warned of high waves
During the storm “Nelson,” which hit Spain on Thursday, two people also died in the north of the country. Near Cantabria, a British tourist was only rescued dead after he was hit by a large wave and swept into the sea.
Just a few kilometers away, a local woman drowned after being swept into the sea by a wave. This was reported by the state television broadcaster RTVE, citing local authorities. With breakers up to seven meters high, urgent warnings were issued not to approach the coast.
spr/dpa