Two people including a British holidaymaker have died after trying to rescue two children who were in difficulties in the sea at a Costa Blanca beach.
The 52-year-old rushed into the water to aid the youngsters, aged six and seven, along with others.
But he ended up losing his life alongside a Polish Good Samaritan aged 46.
Two other people were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties following the drama earlier on Friday. Their nationalities are not known.
It was not immediately clear this afternoon if the British man, believed to be a tourist, was in any way related to the children.
The double tragedy occurred around midday at La Roqueta beach in Guardamar de Segura south of Alicante during gusting winds of up to nearly 40mph.
The two men lost their lives just a day after another man, a 68-year-old Israeli national, drowned at the same beach.
The local mayor suspended a full council meeting after being informed about the latest incident.
Up to eight people are said to have tried to aid the stricken youngsters who were rescued unharmed, and confusing local reports initially pointed to all eight drowning.
A Civil Guard source confirmed one of the dead men was a 52-year-old Brit.
He said: “Two people lost their lives. One was British and the other Polish.
“They were both trying to help two young children who were in difficulties in the sea. The sea conditions were pretty bad.”
The two people with breathing problems were taken to Torrevieja University Hospital.
Hospital sources said their lives were not in danger. They are believed to be a woman aged around 20 and and a man aged 22.
The lifeguard service at the town centre beach where the three drownings in the last two days have occurred is not yet up and running.
Guardamar del Segura mayor Jose Luis Saez said after Friday’s double tragedy: “Three deaths from drowning in the last 24 hours at Guardamar’s beaches.
“The prevailing sea conditions are very dangerous, with strong dragging currents making bathing unadvisable.”
He added: “Maximum precaution is needed as the weekend weather is going to be unstable.”
