Two British brothers, aged 11 and 13, have died after drowning off a beach on the east coast of Spain, according to local authorities.
The boys died on Tuesday evening after entering the water at Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona, the civil protection force for the Catalonia region said.
Emergency services were called at 20:47 local time and the boys’ father, who had also entered the water, was rescued alive.
Police said sea conditions were rough and the beach had a yellow flag throughout the day – meaning swimming is allowed but caution is advised – local media reported.
Seven medical units were dispatched to the scene and police and fire services also attended.
Authorities also sent a team of psychologists to support the family.
The head of the local police, José Luis Gargallo, said: “This is a beach that offers ideal swimming conditions 99% of the year, but yesterday this was not the case.”
The deaths bring the number of fatalities on Catalan beaches to 16 since the summer season began on 15 June – five more than the same period last year, officials added.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The civil protection force urged “the importance of taking extreme precautions on beaches, swimming pools and inland waters this summer”.
It comes after a number of other British deaths in Spain this summer.
Two British men, aged 19 and 26, died in separate incidents at a hotel and music venue in Ibiza earlier this month.
