British man drowns in sea off beach in Portuguese tourist hotspot – and his wife only found out when she went to see what commotion was
His wife only discovered her husband had died when she went to check out the commotion
A BRITISH tourist has drowned off a beach in Portugal after getting into difficulties during an early-morning swim.
Volunteer firefighters tried to revive him by the water’s edge after he was pulled from the sea but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The tragedy happened just after 8am this morning at Praia de Mira beach on Portugal’s central coast near the university city of Coimbra.
Local reports said the unnamed Brit’s family was staying nearby and his wife only discovered her husband had died around an hour and a half later when she went to check out what the commotion was all about.
Maritime Police chief Carlos Isabel described the dead man as a “strong swimmer.”
He said: “According to witnesses we spoke to, he regularly went swimming in the mornings.
“He was a good swimmer. He was caught up in a rip current.
“His wife went to see what was happening and only discovered then that it was her husband who had drowned.”
A post-mortem was expected to take place this afternoon in Coimbra.
A 28-year-old woman drowned off the same beach just over a month ago after racing into the water to help another swimmer in difficulties who subsequently managed to reach safety.
Two surfers pulled her body out of the water.
Now the summer is over lifeguards no longer patrol the picture-perfect beach, known for its silky sand and striped fisherman’s chapel on the edge of the beach near the car park.
A lagoon on the other side of the beach is popular with holidaying families who hire paddleboats for their children.
The former fishing village also attracts many surfers.